Organisation Description
The Tournemire Underground Research Laboratory (URL), located in a former railway tunnel nearly 2 km long (constructed 1882–1888), is a key facility for studying clay formations. Its research focuses on understanding the confining properties of clayey rocks and assessing the performance of components in geological disposal facilities. Since its establishment in 1990, the site has hosted numerous research programmes using advanced observation and analysis techniques. Six galleries, excavated since 1996, along with over 300 boreholes, have enabled detailed geological investigations. The URL supports ASNR’s independent safety reviews of disposal facility safety cases and plays a key role in studying the ageing of materials used in geological disposal infrastructures. Stable, controlled environmental conditions allow long-term observation of the effects of multiple parameters on sealing and structural materials. Continuous sensors and monitoring systems track the evolution of mechanical and chemical properties and their interaction with the surrounding clay rock, providing essential data to anticipate the durability and safety of facilities over geological timescales.
Potential Type of Collaboration
Participation in working groups; access to data or facilities; joint research initiatives; training programmes or knowledge transfer activities.
