Abstract
In the case of construction of repository for nuclear waste near the coastal area, the effect of brine on hydraulic conductivity and swelling pressure of bentonite as an engineering barrier should be considered because these characteristics are affected by salinity of water. Thus, the effect of salinity of water on hydraulic conductivity of bentonite has been conducted experimentally. However, it is necessary to elucidate and to model the mechanism of the phenomenon because various kinds of bentonites may possibly be placed in various kinds of salt water with various degree of salinity. In this study, a model for evaluating hydraulic conductivity and swelling pressure of compacted bentonite is proposed considering increase in number of sheets of montmorillonite crystal because of cohesion as well as decrease in viscosity of void water. Quantitative evaluation method for hydraulic conductivity together with swelling pressure of several kinds of bentonite under brine is proposed based on the model mentioned above.
