Thermal-cycle testing of the G-tunnel heated block
Volcanic tuffs are being considered by the Department of Energy (DOE) as a medium for disposal of high-level radioactive wastes. The Nevada Nuclear Waste Storage Investigations (NNWSI) Project was established in 1977 to evaluate such disposal in geologic formations on or adjacent to the Nevada Test Site (NTS). Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), as one of the NNWSI project participants, is responsible for the rock mechanics program to support the design of underground portions of a radioactive-waste repository in tuff. A rock mechanics field testing program is underway in G-Tunnel in Rainier Mesa on the NTS, where tuffs similar to those at Yucca Mountain, the potential candidate site, are found; later experiments are planned as part of the exploratory shaft investigations in Yucca Mountain. Science Applications International Corporation has been under contract to SNL to prepare and install instrumentation and control systems and to aid in the evaluation of the heated-block rock mechanics experiment.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 59892
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-850671--; ISBN 0-90-6191-602-X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
58 GEOSCIENCES
CONTROL SYSTEMS
DESIGN
FIELD TESTS
HEATING
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
NEVADA TEST SITE
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
ROCK MECHANICS
SANDIA LABORATORIES
THERMAL CYCLING
THERMAL TESTING
TUFF
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
YUCCA MOUNTAIN
Yucca Mountain Project