Preliminary drift design analyses for nuclear waste repository in tuff
- Agapito (J.F.T.) and Associates, Inc., Grand Junction, CO (United States)
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
The Yucca Mountain Project (YMP) is examining the feasibility of siting a repository for high-level nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, on and adjacent to the Nevada Test Site (NTS). The proposed repository will be excavated in the Topopah Spring Member, which is a moderately fractured, unsaturated, welded tuff. Excavation stability will be required during construction, waste emplacement, retrieval (if required), and closure to ensure worker safety. The subsurface excavations will be subject to stress changes resulting from thermal expansion of the rock mass and seismic events associated with regional tectonic activity and underground nuclear explosions (UNEs). Analyses of drift stability are required to assess the acceptable waste emplacement density, to design the drift shapes and ground support systems, and to establish schedules and cost of construction. This paper outlines the proposed methodology to assess drift stability and then focuses on an example of its application to the YMP repository drifts based on preliminary site data. Because site characterization activities have not begun, the database currently lacks the extensive site-specific field and laboratory data needed to form conclusions as to the final ground support requirements. This drift design methodology will be applied and refined as more site-specific data are generated and as analytical techniques and methodologies are verified during the site characterization process.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 138344
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-90-0018C; CONF-900646-12; ON: DE92003144; TRN: 92:007041
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 31. US symposium on rock mechanics, Golden, CO (United States), 18-20 Jun 1990; Other Information: PBD: 30 Jan 1990
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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