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iCross (Integrity of nuclear waste repository systems – Cross-scale system understanding and analysis) is an integrated project that combines research competencies of various partner (GFZ, HZDR, UFZ, KIT, FZJ) in the fields of geo-, nuclear and biosciences and environmental simulations. Based on laboratory tests, in-situ experiments in underground research laboratories (Mont Terri, Grimsel, Beishan) and modelling, we aim to understand and analyze realistic long-term evolution pathways of radioactive waste repositories across nano- to repository scale. Within this context, we are going to investigate the effect of temperature and other boundary conditions on the strength, creep properties and healing of faults within Opalinus clay, which is a potential host rock for nuclear waste.