Analysis of thermal-hydrologic-mechanical behavior near an emplacement drift at Yucca Mountain
- LBNL Library
A coupled thermal, hydrologic and mechanical (THM) analysis is conducted to evaluate the impact of coupled THM processes on the performance of a potential nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. The analysis considers changes in rock mass porosity, permeability, and capillary pressure caused by rock deformations during drift excavation, as well as those caused by thermo-mechanically induced rock deformations after emplacement of the heat-generating waste. The analysis consists of a detailed calibration of coupled hydraulic-mechanical rock mass properties against field experiments, followed by a prediction of the coupled thermal, hydrologic, and mechanical behavior around a potential repository drift. For the particular problem studied and parameters used, the analysis indicates that the stress-induced permeability changes will be within one order of magnitude and that these permeability changes do not significantly impact the overall flow pattern around the repository drift.
- 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:
- 838062
- Report Number(s):
- LBNL--49951
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, Journal Name: Journal of Contaminant Hydrology Journal Issue: SI Vol. 62-3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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