Simulation of a hydromechanical mock-up test on GMZ01 bentonite with double structure approach

This paper describes the simulation of an infiltration test conducted on GMZ bentonite with Barcelona Expansive Model. The infiltration test was carried out on compacted GMZ bentonite sample, which was embedded in a Beishan granite column. Numerical simulation was performed to model the hydromechanical behaviour of the GMZ bentonite sample. Micro- and macrostructure changes during the hydration of bentonite, as well as the interactions between bentonite and granite boundary were investigated. Results show that suction calculated by the Code_Bright software agrees well with the measured ones. The calculated axial swelling stress and the radial stress also accord well with the measured ones with consideration of the influence of the interface between bentonite and granite. This conclusion provides a better understanding of the interaction between the compacted bentonite and the host granite.