Further development of the EDV-software INFIL

The process of pressure-driven fluid infiltration can adversely affect the load-bearing behaviour and the long-term integrity of the geological barrier in the near-field of closed underground cavities. Therefore, a sufficient understanding of the process of pressure-driven fluid infiltration as well as the development of approaches for physical modelling of the infiltration process and the development of software for its numerical simulation is of great importance in assessing the long-term safety of underground repositories for hazardous or radioactive. The aim of the BMBF-funded research project "Further development of the EDV-software INFIL for numerical simulation of pressure-driven infiltration processes of fluids into a non-permeable barrier rock mass (rock salt)" has been the further development of the computer software INFIL for numerical simulation of the pressure-driven fluid infiltration process into a primarily impermeable salt rock mass. As a basis for physical modelling as well as numerical simulation of this process, extensive laboratory studies concerning this process have been performed. In addition, the numerical software has been modified to enable the simulation of 3D-situations. This project has been successfully completed by the creation of a final report in December 2009. Based on the results of this project, afterwards the numerical software has been further improved. It is now used in the context of third-party projects related to practice.