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2025 Vol.35, Issue 5 Preview Page

Original Article

A Study on the Effects of Joint Geometric Properties on Linear and Nonlinear Flow Characteristics

절리 기하학적 물성이 선형, 비선형 수리 유동 특성에 미치는 영향에 대한 연구

Seungbeom Choi1*
,
Taehyun Kim1
,
Jin-Seop Kim2
최 승범1*
,
김 태현1
,
김 진섭2
1Senior Researcher, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI)
2Principal Researcher, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI)
1한국원자력연구원 선임연구원
2한국원자력연구원 책임연구원
*Corresponding Author
31 October 2025. pp. 640-665
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Abstract

Groundwater flow in crystalline rock masses occurs predominantly along joints. Therefore, detailed characterization of flow through individual joint is critical to the long-term safety of deep geological repositories for high-level radioactive waste. The geometry of joint surfaces can be described by various properties and exert a significant influence on hydromechanical behavior. This study investigates, experimentally and numerically, the effects of such geometric properties on linear and nonlinear flow through a rock joint. Joint specimens were created by inducing tensile failure in intact rock, and their surface geometries were measured using a laser scanner. Then hydraulic tests were conducted under conditions representative of a repository environment. The results indicate that the spatial correlation of aperture can affect the overall flow behavior. Numerical simulations of the aperture field further show that small spatial correlation strengthens flow channeling, giving rise to flow nonlinearity. In addition, localized eddy flows that develop under high pressure can contribute to nonlinearity as well. The findings provide fundamental insights into flow through single rock joint and can serve as reference data for subsequent safety assessments.

Keywords
Crystalline rock joint
Geometric joint properties
Hydraulic test
Linear/nonlinear flow

결정질 암반에서의 지하수 유동은 대부분 절리를 통하여 발생하기 때문에 절리를 통한 수리 유동의 자세한 특성화는 고준위방사성폐기물 처분장 전체의 장기적 안전성 측면에서 매우 중요한 사항이다. 절리 표면의 기하학적 특성은 다양한 물성으로 표현될 수 있으며, 이는 절리의 수리역학적 거동에 지대한 영향을 미친다. 본 논문에서는 이러한 표면 물성이 절리를 통한 유동의 선형, 비선형 특성에 미치는 영향을 실험적으로 파악하고 수치해석을 통해 보다 자세히 확인하였다. 무결암 시험편을 인장 파괴하여 절리 시험편을 생성했으며, 그 표면 물성은 레이저 스캐너를 활용하여 측정하였다. 처분장의 환경 조건을 반영하여 일정 압력 조건의 수리시험을 수행한 결과, 표면 기하학적 물성 중 간극의 공간 상관성이 전체적인 수리 유동에 미치는 영향을 파악하였다. 간극 공간에 대한 수치해석 결과, 공간 상관성에 따라 유동의 채널링 현상이 강화되어 비선형성이 나타날 수 있으며, 동시에 높은 수압 조건에서 국부적인 지역에 발생하는 와류 역시 비선형성의 원인이 될 수 있음을 확인하였다. 본 논문은 단일 절리를 통한 수리 유동과 관련된 기초 결과를 제공함으로써 향후 암반 단위의 안전성 해석을 위한 참조자료로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

키워드
결정질 암석 절리
기하학적 물성
절리 수리시험
선형/비선형 유동
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Information
  • Publisher :Korean Society for Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국암반공학회
  • Journal Title :Tunnel and Underground Space
  • Journal Title(Ko) :터널과 지하공간
  • Volume : 35
  • No :5
  • Pages :640-665
  • Received Date : 2025-10-10
  • Revised Date : 2025-10-21
  • Accepted Date : 2025-10-21
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7474/TUS.2025.35.5.640
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