Publications
RATDAMPER- A simple numerical procedure for coupling mechanical and hydrological properties within the disturbed rock zone at the waste isolation pilot plant
A simple numerical procedure for predicting damage and permeability in the disturbed rock zone (DRZ) is given. The empirical procedure predicts damage based on a function of stress tensor invariants. For a wttte class of problems hydro logic/mechanical coupling is necessary for proper analysis. The RATDAMPER procedure incorporates dilatant volumetric strain and permeability. It has been implemented in a weakly coupled code, which combines a finite element structural code and a finite difference multi-phase fluid flow code. Using the development of inelastic volumetric strain, a value of permeability can be assigned. This flexibility allows empirical permeability functional relationships to be evaluated.