Petrologic and mechanical properties of outcrop samples of the welded, devitrified Topopah Spring Member of the Paintbrush Tuff

Technical Report · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:60153

Price, R H; Connolly, J R; Keil, K

More than fifty outcrop samples of the Topopah Spring Member of the Paintbrush Tuff have been analyzed for their petrologic or mechanical properties. In general, the compositions of these samples are very similar to each other and to stratigraphically equivalent samples from drill holes within Yucca Mountain. There are, however, specific textural features that are locally variable and a nonuniform distribution of high porosity textural features throughout Yucca Mountain. The mechanical test samples all had nominal diameters of 50.8 mm and a nominal length-to-diameter ratio of 2:1. Both fully saturated and oven dried samples were deformed in compression at effective confining pressures of 0, 5 and 10 MPa; temperatures of 22 and 150{sup 0}C; and nominal strain rates of 10{sup -7}, 10{sup -5}, and 10{sup -3} s{sup -1}. Bulk modulus is directly related to both saturation and pressure, Young`s modulus is inversely related to temperature, and ultimate strength is directly related to pressure and inversely related to temperature. All of these effects, however, are secondary to the elastic and strength property variability resulting from inclusion of highly porous inhomogeneities. 32 refs., 15 figs., 7 tabs.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States); New Mexico Univ., Albuquerque, NM (United States). Dept. of Geology
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 60153
• Report Number(s): SAND--86-1131; ON: DE87010524
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
58 GEOSCIENCES
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
PETROGRAPHY
PETROLOGY
POROSITY
TUFF
YUCCA MOUNTAIN
Yucca Mountain Project