Effects of temperature on strength and compressibility of sand-bentonite buffer

Dense sand-bentonite buffer (γd = 1.67Mg/m3) has been proposed in Canada as one of several barriers for isolating nuclear fuel waste. The buffer will be required to function under conditions of high total pressures and elevated temperatures approaching 100°C. Summary results are presented from two test programs: (1) isothermal consolidated undrained triaxial (CIU¯) tests; and (2) isothermal drained constant-p′ (CID) triaxial tests. Specimens were consolidated at effective stresses up to 9.0 MPa and temperatures up to 100°C. sults indicate parallel hardening lines at systematically lower values of specific volume at elevated temperatures. In shear, increased temperatures produced lower values of maximum deviator stressqf, and higher pore water pressure changesΔuf. The net result is curved peak strength envelops in plots ofqf versuspf′ that are higher at elevated temperatures, even though the strengths,qf of individual specimens are lower. The critical state strength envelope is curved inq, p′-planes. fect of drained heating on buffer to 100°C is not marked. Compressibilities, stiffnesses, strengths, and pore water pressure generation are all affected, but none of the changes are great.