Influence of Moisture Influx on the Hygro-thermal Performance of a Clay Buffer Developed for Nuclear Disposal Vault

This paper focusses on an experimental study that investigates the heat transfer and moisture movement within a bentonite clay buffer compacted in a borehole located in a granite block. The moisture transport properties of the interface between the clay buffer and the rock are varied to observe the influence of moisture influx on the hydrothermal response of the buffer region.