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A New Method for Real-Time Monitoring of Grout Spread Through Fractured Rocks

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Alasdair E. Henderson ,
Iain A. Robertson ,
John M Whitfield ,
Graham F.G. Garrard ,
Nicholas G. Swannell  and
Hansruedi Fisch
Alasdair E. Henderson
Affiliation:
Ritchies Division of Edmund Nuttall Ltd, Glasgow Road, Kilsyth, Glasgow G65 9BL, U.K
Iain A. Robertson
Affiliation:
Ritchies Division of Edmund Nuttall Ltd, Glasgow Road, Kilsyth, Glasgow G65 9BL, U.K
John M Whitfield
Affiliation:
UKAEA Dounreay Division, Dounreay, Thurso, Caithness KW14 7TZ, U.K
Graham F.G. Garrard
Affiliation:
Halcrow Group, Burderop Park, Swindon, Wiltshire SN4 0QD, U.K
Nicholas G. Swannell
Affiliation:
Halcrow Group, Burderop Park, Swindon, Wiltshire SN4 0QD, U.K
Hansruedi Fisch
Affiliation:
Solexperts AG, Mettlenbachstr. 25, Postfach 122, CH-8617 Mönchaltorf, Switzerland
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Abstract

Reducing water ingress into the Shaft at Dounreay is essential for the success of future intermediate level waste (ILW) recovery using the dry retrieval method. The reduction is being realised by forming an engineered barrier of ultrafine cementitious grout injected into the fractured rock surrounding the Shaft. Grout penetration of 6m in <50μm fractures is being reliably achieved, with a pattern of repeated injections ultimately reducing rock mass permeability by up to three orders of magnitude.

An extensive field trials period, involving over 200 grout mix designs and the construction of a full scale demonstration barrier, has yielded several new field techniques that improve the quality and reliability of cementitious grout injection for engineered barriers.

In particular, a new method has been developed for tracking in real-time the spread of ultrafine cementitious grout through fractured rock and relating the injection characteristics to barrier design. Fieldwork by the multi-disciplinary international team included developing the injection and real-time monitoring techniques, pre- and post injection hydro-geological testing to quantify the magnitude and extent of changes in rock mass permeability, and correlation of grout spread with injection parameters to inform the main works grouting programme.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1107: Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXXI , 2008 , 577
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2008

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References

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