Rock opening design and analyses for radioactive waste repositories

Technical Report · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:6449644

Lyons, W C; Oravecz, K I; Gallaher, B J; Buddecke, D

The report assesses the uniqueness of the radioactive waste disposal when viewed from the standpoint of design, construction, and operation of underground cavities dedicated for that use. Underground excavations design and construction for mining and civil engineering projects are reviewed and their application to the waste repository problem are considered. The particular subjects addressed in some detail are underground layouts, opening criteria and construction procedures for supported and unsupported rock, and opening protection practices. These subjects are addressed for applications only to igneous and metamorphic rock (hard rocks) and a limited class of basically nonplastic competent sedimentary rock (soft rock). The main threat to, repository failure, appears to be in the possibility that waste induced thermal stresses could eventually open pathways for water to pass into and out of the repository area. It is found that highly elaborate stress analysis and in-situ thermal tests may not be completely appropriate to the waste repository design and construction. Further, it is found that certain grain sized igneous rocks should be more appropriate to repository designs than others. Protection of the excavation openings both through the use of structural supports and through the use of rock face sealing methods may be quite advantageous in promoting the longevity of the waste repository. Particular attention is given to spreading of the heat sources (canisters) in the underground repository and possibly also to diluting the waste matrix with more inert materials to lessen the local rock thermal stresses.

• Research Organization: Science Applications, Inc., Santa Fe, NM (USA). Hydro and Geoengineering Div.
• OSTI ID: 6449644
• Report Number(s): NVO-0024-1
• 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
58 GEOSCIENCES
580300 -- Mineralogy
Petrology
& Rock Mechanics-- (-1989)
CONSTRUCTION
DESIGN
EXCAVATION
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
IGNEOUS ROCKS
MANAGEMENT
METAMORPHIC ROCKS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
UNDERGROUND SPACE
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT