Basic Physicochemical and Mechanical Properties of Domestic Bentonite for Use as a Buffer Material in a High-level Radioactive Waste Repository

The physicochemical, mineralogical, hydraulic, swelling and mechanical properties of a domestic bentonite for use as the buffer material in a high-level waste repository have been measured. The bentonite is identified to be a Ca-bentonite, and the hydraulic conductivity of the compacted bentonite with the dry density higher than 1.4 Mg/㎥ is lower than 10$^{-11}$ m/s When the dry densities are 1.4 to 1.8 Mg/㎥, the swelling pressures are in the range of 6.6 to 143.5 kg/$\textrm{cm}^2$. The unconfined compressive strength is about 94 kg/$\textrm{cm}^2$, and the coefficient of volume change and the coefficient of consolidation are in the range of 0.O0249 to 0.02142 $m^2$/MN and 0.018 to 0.115$m^2$/year, respectively.