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Simple modelling of fast hydration processes in bentonite pellet fills
Abstract A novel hydro-mechanical formulation is presented to simulate the fast wetting of bentonite pellet fills. The model is based on a triple porosity concept, but its formulation uses a double porosity structure for simplicity. It is assumed that the fast wetting process results in a liquid pressure in the inter-pellet voids equal to the boundary liquid pressure. This enables the system of equations to be solved to have the same structure than that used to analyse the behaviour of the bentonite blocks with numerical tools based on double porosity approaches. Thus, it is relatively simple to extend such tools to incorporate the triple porosity conceptual model that is presented in this paper. To assess the scope of the proposed formulation, a set of tests in which the inter-pellet void space is rapidly flooded and a test in which the inter-pellet void space is circulated with progressively more humid air are simulated. The results obtained for pellets fills of both FEBEX and MX-80 bentonites are very satisfactory, despite the simplicity of the formulation presented.
Highlights The hydro-mechanical fast wetting of bentonite pellet fills is modelled. The model presented uses a triple porosity concept and a double porosity structure. Two tests, with FEBEX and MX-80 bentonite pellets, are modelled satisfactorily. Fast and slow hydration models can bound the behaviour of bentonite pellet fills.
Simple modelling of fast hydration processes in bentonite pellet fills
Abstract A novel hydro-mechanical formulation is presented to simulate the fast wetting of bentonite pellet fills. The model is based on a triple porosity concept, but its formulation uses a double porosity structure for simplicity. It is assumed that the fast wetting process results in a liquid pressure in the inter-pellet voids equal to the boundary liquid pressure. This enables the system of equations to be solved to have the same structure than that used to analyse the behaviour of the bentonite blocks with numerical tools based on double porosity approaches. Thus, it is relatively simple to extend such tools to incorporate the triple porosity conceptual model that is presented in this paper. To assess the scope of the proposed formulation, a set of tests in which the inter-pellet void space is rapidly flooded and a test in which the inter-pellet void space is circulated with progressively more humid air are simulated. The results obtained for pellets fills of both FEBEX and MX-80 bentonites are very satisfactory, despite the simplicity of the formulation presented.
Highlights The hydro-mechanical fast wetting of bentonite pellet fills is modelled. The model presented uses a triple porosity concept and a double porosity structure. Two tests, with FEBEX and MX-80 bentonite pellets, are modelled satisfactorily. Fast and slow hydration models can bound the behaviour of bentonite pellet fills.
Simple modelling of fast hydration processes in bentonite pellet fills
Asensio, Laura (author) / De la Morena, Gema (author) / Alonso, Juan (author) / Navarro, Vicente (author)
Engineering Geology ; 315
2023-01-30
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
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