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Title: Flow calculations for Yucca Mountain groundwater travel time (GWTT-95)

Abstract

In 1983, high-level radioactive waste repository performance requirements related to groundwater travel time were defined by NRC subsystem regulation 10 CFR 60.113. Although DOE is not presently attempting to demonstrate compliance with that regulation, understanding of the prevalence of fast paths in the groundwater flow system remains a critical element of any safety analyses for a potential repository system at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Therefore, this analysis was performed to allow comparison of fast-path flow against the criteria set forth in the regulation. Models developed to describe the conditions for initiation, propagation, and sustainability of rapid groundwater movement in both the unsaturated and saturated zones will form part of the technical basis for total- system analyses to assess site viability and site licensability. One of the most significant findings is that the fastest travel times in both unsaturated and saturated zones are in the southern portion of the potential repository, so it is recommended that site characterization studies concentrate on this area. Results support the assumptions regarding the importance of an appropriate conceptual model of groundwater flow and the incorporation of heterogeneous material properties into the analyses. Groundwater travel times are sensitive to variation/uncertainty in hydrologic parameters and in infiltration fluxmore » at upper boundary of the problem domain. Simulated travel times are also sensitive to poorly constrained parameters of the interaction between flow in fractures and in the matrix.« less

Authors:
; ; ; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
401710
Report Number(s):
SAND-96-0819
ON: DE97000873
DOE Contract Number:  
AC04-94AL85000
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Sep 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
58 GEOSCIENCES; 05 NUCLEAR FUELS; YUCCA MOUNTAIN; HYDROLOGY; GROUND WATER; RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES; UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL; RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL

Citation Formats

Altman, S J, Arnold, B W, Barnard, R W, Barr, G E, Ho, C K, McKenna, S A, and Eaton, R R. Flow calculations for Yucca Mountain groundwater travel time (GWTT-95). United States: N. p., 1996. Web. doi:10.2172/401710.
Altman, S J, Arnold, B W, Barnard, R W, Barr, G E, Ho, C K, McKenna, S A, & Eaton, R R. Flow calculations for Yucca Mountain groundwater travel time (GWTT-95). United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/401710
Altman, S J, Arnold, B W, Barnard, R W, Barr, G E, Ho, C K, McKenna, S A, and Eaton, R R. 1996. "Flow calculations for Yucca Mountain groundwater travel time (GWTT-95)". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/401710. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/401710.
@article{osti_401710,
title = {Flow calculations for Yucca Mountain groundwater travel time (GWTT-95)},
author = {Altman, S J and Arnold, B W and Barnard, R W and Barr, G E and Ho, C K and McKenna, S A and Eaton, R R},
abstractNote = {In 1983, high-level radioactive waste repository performance requirements related to groundwater travel time were defined by NRC subsystem regulation 10 CFR 60.113. Although DOE is not presently attempting to demonstrate compliance with that regulation, understanding of the prevalence of fast paths in the groundwater flow system remains a critical element of any safety analyses for a potential repository system at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Therefore, this analysis was performed to allow comparison of fast-path flow against the criteria set forth in the regulation. Models developed to describe the conditions for initiation, propagation, and sustainability of rapid groundwater movement in both the unsaturated and saturated zones will form part of the technical basis for total- system analyses to assess site viability and site licensability. One of the most significant findings is that the fastest travel times in both unsaturated and saturated zones are in the southern portion of the potential repository, so it is recommended that site characterization studies concentrate on this area. Results support the assumptions regarding the importance of an appropriate conceptual model of groundwater flow and the incorporation of heterogeneous material properties into the analyses. Groundwater travel times are sensitive to variation/uncertainty in hydrologic parameters and in infiltration flux at upper boundary of the problem domain. Simulated travel times are also sensitive to poorly constrained parameters of the interaction between flow in fractures and in the matrix.},
doi = {10.2172/401710},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/401710}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996},
month = {Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996}
}