| Clays and clay-sand mixtures have been used to isolate contaminants from the biota in schemes such as that proposed by AECL for the disposal of heat-generating nuclear fuel wastes. This study focusses on the effects that gas generation and release in a repository may have on its engineered clay barriers. The results are not specific to a repository for nuclear waste and may apply wherever engineered clay barrier properties may be affected by gas migration.;For the illitic clay, gas-breakthrough generally decreased with decreasing w, ;Equipment and test procedures were developed to determine the resistance specimens would have against penetration of gas due to an increasing gas pressure gradient. Forty-six tests on illitic clay compacted at moisture contents (w) from 10-17% to dry densities (... |
