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Research programme | Surface Experiments

Surface Experiments
 
Various experiments are carried out on the surface. Different categories can be defined:
 
 
Characterisation experiments:
These experiments are small and medium-scale experiments intended to study the characterisation of the components of the system.

Preparatory experiments for tests in the underground laboratory:
As large-scale experiments in the underground laboratory are extremely expensive, it may prove necessary to realise preparatory tests on the surface. The implementation procedures and instrumentation can be optimised in this way. These preparatory tests make it possible to reduce the risk of problems during the realisation of in-situ experiments and ensure the quality of the results obtained.

For example, this is the case, with the OPHELIE experiment. The OPHELIE experiment is intended to study the large-scale reference disposal architecture as considered in the 90's by ONDRAF/NIRAS. The results of the experiment contributed to the review of this architecture. The current reference architecture is the Supercontainer.
  
Technical demonstration experiments:
Some experiments do not have to be carried out in the underground laboratory and are solely realised on the surface. This is the case for experiments intended to show the feasibility of manufacturing a supercontainer.