The Results of Near-Field Thermal and Mechanical Calculations of Thermal Loading Schemes

Holland, John F.; ,

The Results of Near-Field Thermal and Mechanical Calculations of Thermal Loading Schemes

by John F. Holland, Technadyne Engineering Consultants, Inc, Albuquerque, United States,

Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: High Level Radioactive Waste Management 1993

Abstract:

Two waste emplacement schemes, borehole and in-drift, are under evaluation as potential repository drift geometries for the Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Project. Calculations were performed to examine the systems implications of various thermal loadings on the near- and far-field repository environments. This paper reports the results of two-dimensional finite element analyses of the near-field thermal and structural response of the potential repository. Thermal calculations were run to 1000 years and mechanical calculations were run to 75 years, the time when the drifts will be backfilled. Local areal power densities (LAPDs) of 57, 80, and 100 kW/acre were used in the calculations. Both emplacement schemes meet current near-field thermal performance goals for all loadings examined. The mechanical calculations predict no intact rick failure, limited joint slippage around the drifts, and closure of apertures for vertical fractures above and below the drifts.

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