Backfill LA Reference Design Feature Evaluation
Backfill is one of the design features of the repository to be considered for License Application (LA). The objective of this report is to discuss the benefits and liabilities to the repository of the inclusion of backfill in emplacement drifts. Backfill may act as a barrier to water flow, may reduce the waste dissolution rate, and can provide structural protection for the waste package. However, installation of the backfill material can be costly in terms of time, money, and human effort. The scope of this report is to: (1) Analyze the behavior of backfill materials following the intrusion of groundwater for influxes of 1 to 300 mm per year. The report will demonstrate dispersion of groundwater intrusions into backfill over an extended time period when seismic activity and consolidation may cause the potential for liquefaction and settlement of the backfill material. (2) Review the thermal effects of backfill on material behavior. (3) Analyze the effect of rockfall on the performance of backfill and the depth of backfill required to protect waste packages under backfill. (4) Review radiological and heating conditions on placement of backfill. Subsurface Nuclear Safety personnel will perform calculations to determine the radiation reduction-time relationship and shielding capacity of backfill. (5) Evaluate the effects of ventilation on cooling of emplacement drifts and dusting potential. (6) Evaluate drift conditions and configurations to determine the suitability of backfilling methodology. (7) Perform cost assessment of backfill material placement. (8) Evaluate the feature with criteria that will be supplied by the License Application Design Selection (LADS) Team. This report does not discuss backfill for sealing of ramps, shafts and mains but is limited to backfill in emplacement drifts.
- Research Organization:
- Yucca Mountain Project, Las Vegas, NV (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Department of Energy (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC08-91RW00134
- OSTI ID:
- 759930
- Report Number(s):
- B00000000-01717-2200-00214-Rev.00-ICN.1; TRN: US0005098
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 17 Nov 1999
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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