• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.183-184
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• 2010

From the analyses of borehole logging and hydraulic test results, the statistical properties of background fractures were characterized, and the HRDs were defined.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.117-128
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• 2017

Occurrence characteristics and existing forms of U-Th containing minerals in KURT (KAERI Underground Research Tunnel) granite are investigated to understand long-term behavior of radionuclides in granite considered as a candidate rock for the geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste. KURT granite primarily consists of quartz, feldspar and mica. zircon, REE(Rare Earth Element)-containing monazite and bastnaesite are also identified. Besides, secondary minerals such as sericite, microcline and chlorite including quartz vein and calcite vein are observed. These minerals are presumed to be accompanied by a post-hydrothermal process. U-Th containing minerals are mainly observed at the boundaries of quartz, feldspar and mica, mostly less than $30{\mu}m$ in size. Quantitative analysis results using EPMA (Electron Probe Micro-Analyzer) show that 74.2 ~ 96.5% of the U-Th containing minerals consist of $UO_2$ (3.39 ~ 33.19 wt.%), $ThO_2$ (41.61 ~ 50.24 wt.%) and $SiO_2$ (15.43 ~ 18.60 wt.%). Chemical structure of the minerals calculated using EPMA quantitative analysis shows that the U-Th minerals are silicate minerals determined as thorite and uranothorite. The U-Th containing silicate minerals are formed by a magmatic and hydrothermal process. Therefore, KURT granite formed by a magmatic differentiation is accompanied by an alteration and replacement owing to a hydrothermal process. U-Th containing silicate minerals in KURT granite are estimated to be recrystallized by geochemical factors and parameters such as temperature, pressure and pH owing to the hydrothermal process. By repeated dissolution/precipitation during the recrystallization process, U-Th containing silicate minerals such as thorite and uranothorite are formed according to the variation in the concentrated amount of U and Th.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.4 s.50
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• pp.239-246
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• 2006

KAERI Underground Research Tunnel (KURT) was recently constructed through the site investigation from the yea. of 2003 at KAERI site, Dukjin-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon city. The geo-logic setting of the site has been slightly metamorphosed. There are small fractures developed in the rock and several kinds of secondary filling minerals exist in the fractures. We examined mineralogical characteristics of fracture-filling calcite, which is not only largely distributed, but also can significantly affect the radionuclides migration. The calcite is found along fractures like other secondary minerals, forming thick veins in part. Most calcite-filled fractures contain quartz, iron oxides, and dolomite as minor minerals. The calcite crystals show an characteristic appearance with an uniformly oriented growth, coated with goethite on the edge and the etch-pit sites of their surface. Some calcite crystals have been newly formed by the precipitation of elements dissolved from the tunnel shotcrete wall, and their morphology changed according to the chemistry and flow of groundwater. The calcite can modify the groundwater chemistry and significantly affect the sorption behavior of radionuclides. The characteristic crystal structure and surface morphology of the calcite examined in the KURT site will be used as important basic data for the radionuclide migration experiment in the future.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.293-301
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• 2010

Optical fiber cable, as a sensor, was installed on the wall of KAERI(Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute) Underground Research Tunnel(KURT) in order to monitor the physical stability of the tunnel, which was constructed for technical development and demonstration of radioactive waste disposal. This monitoring system has two simultaneous measurements of temperature and strain over time using Brillouin backscatter. According to the results of the monitoring from Jan. 2008 to Nov. 2009, there is no significant displacement or movement at the tunnel wall However, the cumulative volume of total strain increased slightly as time passes with the comparison of the reference observation, which was measured in Jan. 2008. The change in cumulative volume of total strain indicates that the strain level had been affected by saturation and de-saturation phenomena due to groundwater fluctuation at several points at KURT. This system is based on the distributed sensing technique concept, not point sensing. By using this system, a displacement can be detected with the range from $20{\mu}{\varepsilon}$ to $28,000{\mu}{\varepsilon}$ every 1m interval in minimum. A temperature variation can be monitored at every 0.5m interval with the resolution of 0.01 in minimum. Based on the study, this monitoring system is potentially applicable to long term monitoring systems for radioactive waste disposal project as well as other structures and underground openings.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.321-328
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• 2006

A basic research was conducted on the mineral weathering and geochemical characteristics in the KURT (KAERI Underground Research Tunnel), which was recently constructed at a site in KAERI. Some rock samples exposed during the KURT construction were examined using a microscope and chemical analysis for some micro-changes of the rocks caused by the chemical weathering. The weathered granite has some small and fine cracks around the rock-forming minerals. In particular, there are a characteristic weathering of feldspar mineral and a preferential leaching of Ca component from the mineral dissolution. In addition, by the dissolution of biotite containing $Fe^{2+}$ component there were iron-oxides precipitates as secondary products into the microcracks of around minerals. The results also show that the micro-cracks initiated from the mineral interior are extended and connected into the larger cracks along the grain boundary with the progress of the weathering. Thus, it is considered that some chemicals dissolved from the fresh rock would be involved in the formation of secondary minerals and migrate interacting with them.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.247-260
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• 2014

Rock masses at the site for the $2^{nd}$ step construction of the KAERI Underground Research Tunnel (KURT) are divided into six units to establish a rock mechanics model that is dependent on the geological characteristics and degree of joint development. The site primarily consists of three granitic units (G1, G2, and G3), two dykes (D1 and D3), and a fault zone of poor rock mass quality (F3). The F3 unit crosses the tunnel at the beginning of the site of $2^{nd}$ step construction. The rock masses of each unit are classified by RMR (Rock Mass Rating), Q-system, and RMi (Rock Mass Index), all based on borehole logging data. The deformation modulus, rock mass strength, cohesion, and friction angle for each unit are calculated using established empirical relationships. The representative rock mass classification and geotechnical parameters for the rock mass units are established, and a rock mechanics model for the site is proposed, which will be useful in the design and stability analysis of the $2^{nd}$ step construction of KURT.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.507-516
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• 2009

In cases of high-level radioactive waste repositories, heat load is apparent by radioactive waste decay. The safety of a waste repository would be influenced by changing circumstances caused by heat transfer through rock. Thus, a ventilation system is necessary to secure the waste repository. The first priority for building an appropriate ventilation system is completing a computer simulation research with thermal rock properties and a heat transfer coefficient. In this study, the heat transfer coefficient in KURT was calculated using the measurement of inner circumstance factors that include dry bulb and wet bulb temperature, rock surface temperature, and barometric pressure. The heater that is 2 m in length and 5 kw in capacity heats the inside of rock in the research module by $90^{\circ}C$. As a result of determining the heat transfer coefficient in the heating section, the changes of heat transfer coefficient were found to be a maximum of 7.9%. The average heat transfer coefficient is approximately 4.533 w/$m^2{\cdot}K$.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.281-291
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• 2013

A hypothetical repository was assumed to be located at the KURT (KAERI Underground Research Tunnel) site, and the travel times of radionuclides released from three source positions were calculated. The groundwater flow around the KURT site was simulated and the groundwater pathways from the hypothetical source positions to the shallow groundwater were identified. Of the pathways, three pathways were selected because they had highly water-conductive features. The transport travel times of the radionuclides were calculated by a TDRW (Time-Domain Random Walk) method. Diffusion and sorption mechanisms in a host rock matrix as well as advection-dispersion mechanisms under the KURT field condition were considered. To reflect the radioactive decay, four decay chains with the radionuclides included in the high-level radioactive wastes were selected. From the simulation results, the half-life and distribution coefficient in the rock matrix, as well as multiple pathways, had an influence on the mass flux of the radionuclides. For enhancing the reliability of safety assessment, this reveals that identifying the history of the radionuclides contained in the high-level wastes and investigating the sorption processes between the radionuclides and the rock matrix in the field condition are preferentially necessary.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.279-296
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• 2022

The fundamental characteristics of groundwater colloids, such as composition, concentration, size, and stability, were analyzed using granitic groundwater samples taken from the KAERI Underground Research Tunnel (KURT) site by such analytical methods as inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, field emission-transmission electron microscopy, a liquid chromatography-organic carbon detector, and dynamic light scattering technique. The results show that the KURT groundwater colloids are mainly composed of clay minerals, calcite, metal (Fe) oxide, and organic matter. The size and concentration of the groundwater colloids were 10-250 nm and 33-64 ㎍·L^-1, respectively. These values are similar to those from other studies performed in granitic groundwater. The groundwater colloids were found to be moderately stable under the groundwater conditions of the KURT site. Consequently, the groundwater colloids in the fractured granite system of the KURT site can form stable radiocolloids and increase the mobility of radionuclides if they associate with radionuclides released from a radioactive waste repository. The results provide basic data for evaluating the effects of groundwater colloids on radionuclide migration in fractured granite rock, which is necessary for the safety assessment of a high-level radioactive waste repository.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.419-434
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• 2020

In this study, the damage parameters of Mazars model for KURT (KAERI Underground Research Tunnel) granite are measured form uniaxial compressive and Brazilian tests under the simulated coupled condition of a deep geological disposal. The tests are conducted in three different temperatures (15℃, 45℃, and 75℃) and dry/saturated conditions. Major model parameters such as maximum effective tensile strain (𝜖_d0), A_t, B_t, A_c, and B_c differ from the typical reference values of concrete specimens. This is likely due to the difference in elastic modulus between rock and concrete. It is found that the saturation of specimens causes an increase in value of B_t and B_c while, the rise in temperature increases 𝜖_d0 and B_t and decreases B_c. The damage model obtained from this study will be used as the primary input parameters in the development of coupled Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical Damage numerical model in KAERI.