Abstract Summary
A one-dimensional heating test was performed to investigate the coupled THM response of MX80 bentonite in unconstrained conditions during basal heating. Measurements include the transient temperature/volumetric water content redistribution at different vertical distances from the flat heater under high temperature gradients and global volumetric strains. The main implication is that the heater surface area in contact with the surrounding bentonite plays a major role in the temperature distribution and the associated coupled water flow. This critical finding may help guide the geometric design of small-scale laboratory mock-up experiments used to study THM processes in controlled laboratory conditions.
