Preliminary near-field environment report: Volume 2, Scientific overview of near-field environment and phenomena
The Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Project Office (YMPO) of the Department of Energy`s Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management Program is conducting a broad range of studies to determine the suitability of Yucca Mountain, Nevada, as the site for a potential nuclear-waste repository. The potential repository horizon is in the unsaturated zone, well above the saturated rock units. The major advantages of unsaturated conditions are that container corrosion, waste-form leaching, and radionuclide transport mechanisms are minimized due to the lack of contact between liquid water and the waste package (WP). The design and performance of the WP and the engineered barrier system (EBS) will be dependent on the geomechanical, hydrologic, and geochemical conditions over time in the rock forming the near-field environment (NFE). Whereas the purpose of Vol. 1 of this report ({open_quotes}Technical Bases for EBS Design{close_quotes}) is to provide technical information on the NFE that is needed for future repository design decisions, the purpose of this volume is to document the scientific and engineering data, models, and approaches that were used to gather that information, thus enabling scientists and engineers to determine the validity of the information provided in Vol. 1. This is of particular importance since there is only limited data and experience with these types of engineered systems, especially in unsaturated rock masses, and very little data or understanding of engineering system performance at the temperatures that will likely result from waste emplacement. It is important, therefore, to have an understanding of the physical processes (a mechanistic understanding) in addition to the statistical distributions of the environmental conditions. This volume consists of eight sections divided by area of study, and a final section summarizing the results of field tests performed at G-Tunnel at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) near Yucca Mountain.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 138688
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-LR--107476-Vol.2; ON: DE93014855
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Engineered barrier environment, Yucca Mountain
Near Field Environment Process Model Report