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Title: Preliminary thermomechanical analyses of a conceptual nuclear waste repository at four salt sites

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5497428

This report describes preliminary thermal and thermomechanical numerical analyses of a potential nuclear waste repository at four salt sites: Paradox Basin, Utah; Permian Basin, Texas; Richton Dome, Mississippi; and Vacherie Dome, Louisiana. The analysis is subdivided according to three distinct geometric regions: canister, disposal room, and repository. An evaluation of the thermal and thermomechanical responses is performed to assess the suitability of each site to host a nuclear waste repository, under a given set of conceptual design assumptions that have not been optimized. In order to compare the thermal and thermomechanical responses of the rock, the same base case repository conditions were assumed to be used as a ruler to measure salt response relative to each site. Absolute values have not been determined; this report presents a relative comparison of differences that exist between sites due to depth and salt creep characteristics. This report represents the first attempt at calculating relative differences in rock responses and in no way represents values which should be used in a specific design. 44 refs., 21 figs., 11 tabs.

Research Organization:
RE/SPEC, Inc., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-83CH10140
OSTI ID:
5497428
Report Number(s):
BMI/ONWI-512; ON: DE86014477
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English