Identification of potential driving mechanisms for HM coupled time-dependent deformation of argillaceous rocks

With respect to radioactive waste confinement indurated clays are potential host rocks as well as barrier rock formations. Regarding the tight coupling between fluid flow processes and time-dependent deformation in argillaceous rock mass this paper presents recent experimental findings obtained in the Mont Terri URL which are interpreted in terms of potential driving mechanisms for the time-dependent deformation behaviour of the rock. Within the interpretation process, numerical modelling work, reflecting the actual properties of the rock in situ, is performed and the simulation results are compared to the experimental results. The discussion also touches on the work which is in progress on validating the Finite Element Code for physical modelling and numerical simulation (CODE_BRIGHT).