Field studies, laboratory experiments, and modeling investigations in fractured media

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA)

OSTI ID:5566154

Deyling, M A; Patera, E S

Groundwater flow and radionuclide migration are two critical factors in determining the performance of a high-level nuclear waste (HLW) repository. Flow and transport in fractured media is a complex problem that must be addressed by both the site characterization programs and predictive models. The Repository Technology Program is investigating three aspects of the problem in cooperative efforts with Canada and Sweden as well as in international programs such as INTRAVAL. The methodologies and techniques developed in these programs can be applied to any site investigation that must consider fracture flow and transport of radionuclides along discrete fractures. Laboratory experiments are being performed in cooperation with Atomic Energy of Canada, Limited (AECL) on a large block of granite ({approx}1 m square) with a discrete fracture to investigate dispersion and diffusion along the fracture. Nonreactive and reactive tracers are used in the experiments. Tracers that include uranine, iodine, and cesium are injected under controlled gradients and sampled uniformly along the fracture discharge surface. Results of the nonreactive tracer experiments will be used to calibrate a radionuclide transport code (FRACFLO) recently developed at Battelle's Office of Waste Technology Development. The calibrated models will then be used to predict the results of experiments that use reactive tracers. The experiment and associated modeling are being considered for use as a test case in the INTRAVAL program.

• OSTI ID: 5566154
• Report Number(s): CONF-880601--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA) Journal Volume: 56
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052002* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Disposal & Storage
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
COORDINATED RESEARCH PROGRAMS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
GEOLOGY
GROUND WATER
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLOGY
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SITE SELECTION
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WATER