Validation of Source-Term Models Using Natural Analogues

by M. J. Apted, Intera Sciences, Inc, Denver, United States,
D. W. Engel, Intera Sciences, Inc, Denver, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: High Level Radioactive Waste Management 1991

Abstract:

A comparison is made between the predicted distribution of copper calculated by the AREST source-term code and the measured profiles for copper surrounding a bronze cannon that was emplaced over 310 years ago in clay sediments. A semi-quantitative agreement is found, based on expected values for sorption coefficient of copper and tortuosity of the clay. Limitations to this present comparison are noted and an alternate method is proposed to substantiate this validation. The successful application of this natural analogue provides guidance to future validation studies of source-term models. Especially important factors are identification and direct analysis of all relevant physical and chemical parameters, and extension of validation to numerical source-term models, which are inherently more capable of incorporating spatial inhomogeneities in natural sites.

Subject Headings: Numerical models | Copper (chemical) | Validation | Comparative studies | Radioactive wastes | Computer models | Clays

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