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UDEC simulation of Triaxial Testing of Lithophysal Tuff

Journal Article · · UDEC Simulation of Triaxial Testing of Lithophysal Tuff
OSTI ID:837704

The current conceptual design for the proposed nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain Nevada includes placing most of the facility in lithophysal Tuff. Because it is difficult to conduct standard confined triaxial laboratory tests on lithophysal tuff, it was decided to use UDEC to conduct numerical triaxial testing of simulated lithophysal tuff samples to supplement existing uniaxial compression data. The results of these numerical experiments are intended to provide guidance on the variability of physical properties as a function of lithophysal porosity. These data can then be used as a basis for large scale modeling of the behavior of the repository drifts. The results of the numerical testing were encouraging and show consistent trends in tuff strength and overall performance as a function of lithophysal porosity.

Research Organization:
Yucca Mountain Project, Las Vegas, Nevada (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
US Department of Energy (US)
OSTI ID:
837704
Journal Information:
UDEC Simulation of Triaxial Testing of Lithophysal Tuff, Journal Name: UDEC Simulation of Triaxial Testing of Lithophysal Tuff
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English