The influence of temperature on mechanical characteristics of Boom clay: The results of an initial laboratory programme

The influence of temperature increase on the classical mechanical properties of a soil, such as shear strength and elasticity modulus, is a major concern in civil engineering works. This influence becomes even more important in the design of an underground repository for radioactive high-level waste. A laboratory programme on Boom clay samples has, therefore, recently been set up. The testing equipment and initial results are presented. Deviatoric stress was found to decrease with increasing temperature—a phenomenon that should be further investigated.