Estimations of changes in microcrack-population, elastic modulus, and permeability, due to differential-thermal expansion in plutonic rock surrounding a nuclear fuel waste disposal vault
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited is studying the disposal of nuclear-fuel-waste in a vault in plutonic rock. An important part of this study is to develop models to assess the rate of escape of waste components to the biosphere. In these models time-dependent changes in the system are important. One such change is the increase in temperature of the rock mass immediately surrounding the vault, and in the far-field. Differential-thermal expansion between rock constituents (crystals), and the expansion of trapped water, will produce microcracking and, hence, possibly changes in intact-rock elastic modulus and permeability. This paper describes the model devised to estimate the extent of microcracking in rock surrounding a vault, and the anticipated changes in rock elastic modulus and permeability. The model is applied to a possible vault, located at various depths in plutonic rock typical of the Canadian Shield. It estimates the dimensions of an envelope outside of which the influence of the vault on microcracking will be negligible.
- Research Organization:
- Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Pinawa, Manitoba
- OSTI ID:
- 5414754
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-850995-
- Journal Information:
- Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc.; (United States), Journal Name: Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc.; (United States) Vol. 50; ISSN MRSPD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
053000* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Environmental Aspects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
510301 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- Soil-- (-1987)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CANADA
CRACKS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EXPANSION
GROUND WATER
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IGNEOUS ROCKS
INTERSTITIAL WATER
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIC ROCKS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
ROCKS
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
THERMAL EXPANSION
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WATER