Evaluation of a concrete plug : From the Dome Plug Experiment DOMPLU at Äspö HRL

Sammanfattning: In SKB’s Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory (HRL) a full scale test of a concrete plug,part of a sealing structure for the depository of spent nuclear fuel, has been carriedout. The aim of this thesis is to evaluate the behavior of the concrete plug and howit corresponds to assumptions made during the design. The concrete plug is domeshaped, un-reinforced and casted in situ with low-pH concrete. It will be exposed tohigh water and swelling pressures and designed for a life span of 100 years. Duringthe first years it shall also prevent water leakage from the inside of the depositiontunnel. Before the pressure is applied, the concrete plug is assumed to de-bond fromthe rock due to autogenous and cooling shrinkage. The gap between the concrete androck is then grouted during cooling and the concrete plug will hence be prestressedwhen the cooling is stopped. The concrete plug is analyzed with the measurement data from the full scale testwith comparisons to results from finite element simulations. The performed measurementsinclude form pressure, internal strain and temperature, concrete plugdisplacements in the tunnel alignment, displacements relative to the rock and ambienttemperatures. Two assumptions have been made during the evaluation; fullbond to the rock or no bond to the rock. The results are also compared to twosimilar experiment that were previously performed. The results indicate that the concrete did de-bond from the rock before grouting tosome extent. It is plausible that a selective de-bonding was obtained. Due to highwater leakage, were cables for the measurement equipment are drawn out from theconcrete plug, the concrete plug was not exposed to the planed maximum pressureload. Results indicate that a water pressure is acting on the concrete plug frominside the rock slot which was not assumed during the design.