(GRS 235) Ventilation Test at Mont Terri

Between December 2001 and May 2004, a ventilation experiment (VE) was performed in the Mont Terri Underground Research Laboratory (URL) and co-financed by the Commission of the European Communities under contract No. FIKW-CT-2001-00126.The objective was to investigate the desaturation of consolidated clay formations in consequence of the ventilation of underground openings of a repository in such a formation. A microtunnel of 1.3 m diameter was excavated and sealed off (Figure 1-1).A ventilation system was installed and a test section of 10 m length was extensively instrumented (Figure 1-2).