A simplified method to evaluate the swelling capacity evolution of a bentonite barrier related to geochemical transformations

Bentonites have been proposed as buffer material for barriers in geological disposal facilities for radioactive waste. This material is expected to fill up by swelling the void between the canisters containing the waste and the surrounding ground. However, the bentonite barriers may be submitted to changes of humidity, temperature variation, fluid interaction, mass transport, etc. This could modify the physico-chemical performance of the barrier, mainly on the interface with the steel container and with the geological barrier. The engineered barrier development necessitates thus the study of the physico-chemical stability of its mineral component as a function of time under the conditions of the repository in the long-term. The aim of this paper is to apply a simplified method (volume balance in a saturated medium) to evaluate the swelling capacity evolution of a bentonite barrier because of their geochemical transformations by using a thermo-kinetic hydrochemical code (KIRMAT: Kinetic Reactions and Mass Transport “1D”).