Introduction

DECOVALEX 2015 was the 6th project phase and ran from 2012 through 2015. Modeling teams from 10 international partner organizations participated in the comparative evaluation of five modeling tasks involving complex field and/or laboratory experiments in Switzerland, France, Japan, and Czech Republic. Together, these tasks addressed a wide range of relevant issues related to engineered and natural system behavior in argillaceous and crystalline host rocks. The following tasks were addressed:

• Task A: The SEALEX Experiment - HM processes in bentonite-based sealing structures
• Task B1: THM processes in bentonite buffers and argillaceous host rocks
• Task B2: The Horonobe EBS experiment - THMC processes in buffer, backfill and hostrock
• Task C1: THMC processes in single fractures of novaculite (micro-crystalline quartz) and granite
• Task C2: The Bedrichov Tunnel - hydro-chemical interactions in a fractured crystalline rock

Publications [link to special issue] and reports are available as follows:

• DECOVALEX-2015 project Executive summary
• Task A Final Report
• Task B1 Final Report
• Task B2 Final Report
• Task C1 Final Report
• Task C2 Final Report

For more information on any of the DECOVALEX phases, please contact Jens Birkholzer or Alex Bond.