Performance Assessment Calculational Exercises (PACE-90): Overview and Summary

by R. W. Barnard, Sandia Natl Lab, Albuquerque, United States,
H. A. Dockery, Sandia Natl Lab, Albuquerque, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: High Level Radioactive Waste Management 1991

Abstract:

PACE-90 was undertaken by the Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Project in order to develop expertise in computational capabilities and to aid in identification of critical elements and processes necessary for performance assessment. One- and two-dimensional codes simulated groundwater flow and transport of selected radionuclides through Yucca Mountain for a period of 100,000 years. Using an ground-water percolation flux of 0.01 mm/yr and a new interpretation of the hydrostratigraphy, the calculations showed no contamination reaching the water table. However, these results should be interpreted with caution because the calculations were based on unvalidated conceptual models and parameters. In a separate part of the exercise, disturbed-condition problems (human intrusion, climate change, and volcanism) were developed as a basis for future calculations.

Subject Headings: Radioactive wastes | Site investigation | Groundwater flow | Water table | Water resources | Water pollution | Radioactive materials | Nevada | United States

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