A mountain-scale model for characterizing unsaturated flow and transport in fractured tuffs of Yucca Mountain

Journal Article · Fri Jul 18 04:00:00 EDT 2003 · Vadose Zone

OSTI ID:834934

Wu, Yu-Shu ^[1]; Lu, Guoping; Zhang, Keni; Bodvarsson, G S

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1. LBNL Library

This paper presents a large-scale modeling study characterizing fluid flow and tracer transport in the unsaturated zone of Yucca Mountain, Nevada, the proposed underground repository site for storing high-level radioactive waste. The modeling study is conducted using a three-dimensional numerical model, which incorporates a wide variety of field data and takes into account the coupled processes of flow and transport in Yucca Mountain's highly heterogeneous, unsaturated, fractured porous rock. The modeling approach is based on a dual-continuum formulation. Using different conceptual models of unsaturated flow, various scenarios of current and future climate conditions and their effects on the unsaturated zone are evaluated to aid in the assessment of the repository's system performance. These models are calibrated against field-measured data. Model-predicted flow and transport processes under current and future climates are discussed.

• Research Organization: Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (US)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 834934
• Report Number(s): LBNL--52524-Jart.
• Journal Information: Vadose Zone, Journal Name: Vadose Zone Vol. 3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
58 GEOSCIENCES
CLIMATES
FLUID FLOW
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
PERFORMANCE
SIMULATION
TRANSPORT
YUCCA MOUNTAIN