The Hydro-Mechanics of Crystalline Rocks

Dear Colleagues,

Geological disposal of radioactive waste is currently being implemented or planned in many countries. Geological disposal relies on multiple engineered and natural barriers to contain and isolate the waste for very long periods. Among these barriers, the host rock plays an important role. Crystalline rocks are one potentially suitable host formation since they are characterized by high strength, thereby providing excavation stability, low heat sensitivity, low permeability, and low dissolution properties. On the other hand, fractures are in general omnipresent in crystalline rocks, resulting in higher permeability of the rock mass as compared to the intact rock. Additionally, in a high stress environment, crystalline rocks can fail in a brittle manner, generating seismic events (rockbursts). Therefore, the design and safety assessment of geological repositories in crystalline rocks should take the above factors into account, through an understanding of, among others, the following topics:

• Intact rock, fractures and fractured rock mass hydromechanical behaviour;
• Rockburst potential;
• Short and long-term stability of excavations in crystalline rocks;
• Flow and radionuclides transport in crystalline rock mass;
• Hydromechanical interaction of crystalline rock mass with engineered seals.

We would like to call for contributions on the above topics, or any other topic relevant to the safety of geological disposal of radioactive waste in crystalline rocks. These subject areas are also of common interest to other spheres of activities, such as mining and tunnel development. Therefore, we would like to also solicit contributions from researchers from these other domains of application where the understanding of the hydromechanics of crystalline rocks is crucial.

Dr. Thanh Son Nguyen
Dr. Julio Infante-Sedano
Guest Editors

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