Analysis of the elastic and strength properties of Yucca Mountain tuff, Nevada
Yucca Mountain, located near the southwest margin of the Nevada Test Site, in southern Nevada, is being evaluated as a potential site for a nuclear waste repository. Yucca Mountain consists primarily of layered volcanic tuff. Samples from four stratigraphic units have been tested for physical, thermal and mechanical properties as part of the Nevada Nuclear Waste Storage Investigations (NNWSI) Project, administered by the Nevada Operations Office of the U.S. Department of Energy. The four units, in order of increasing depth, are as follows: (1) Topopah Spring Member of the Paintbrush Tuff, (2) Tuffaceous Beds of Calico Hills, (3) Bullfrog Member of the Crater Flat Tuff, and (4) Tram Member of the Crater Flat Tuff. A large data base from more than 100 experiments on drillhole core samples of Yucca Mountain silicic tuff has been assembled for use in NNWSI site evaluation and repository design calculations. These data have been analyzed and empirical expressions were found which relate elastic properties and strength with porosity plus clay content. These relationships will be presented here, in addition to an application of simple elastic composite theory to explain the observed variation of bulk modulus with functional porosity.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 59881
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-850671-; ISBN 0-90-6191-601-1
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 26. U.S. symposium on rock mechanics, Rapid City, SD (United States), 26-28 Jun 1985; Other Information: PBD: 1985; Related Information: Is Part Of Research and engineering applications in rock masses. Volume 1; Ashworth, E.; PB: 89-96 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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