A study of methods to prevent piping and erosion in buffer materials intended for a vertical deposition hole at the horonobe underground research laboratory

Piping and erosion phenomena are serious problems affecting the integrity of buffer materials, which are an element of engineered barrier systems in the geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste. In this study, the outflow behaviour and the condition of buffer materials are investigated using a test pit drilled into host rock at the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory to consider countermeasures to contain the outflow of the buffer material. The results are as follows: (1) Piping and erosion phenomena occur irrespective of the injection flow rate. However, when the rate is small, the buffer material is considered to be self-repairing and the outflow of the buffer material can be suppressed. (2) When the injection water contains large amounts of electrolytes, the surface of the buffer material peels off and precipitates, probably decreasing the waterproof performance. (3) Bentonite pellets are likely to be an effective countermeasure against piping and erosion.