Review
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Haydn M. Haynes, Matthew T. Bailey, Jonathan R. Lloyd
Summary: The translated text emphasizes that geological disposal is the most responsible approach for managing higher activity radioactive wastes in the long-term. It also highlights the important role of bentonite as a barrier material to protect waste containers from corrosion and prevent the release of radionuclides. The review discusses the potential impact of microbial colonization in bentonite buffers, specifically focusing on sulphide-producing bacteria and iron(III)-reducing bacteria.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Masashi Nishikawa
Summary: This study finds that neutral respondents are more open to conditions for accepting GDFs and are more sensitive to external shocks compared to non-neutral respondents. The presence of neutral respondents, who may act as decisive players in collective decision-making, highlights the importance of considering their viewpoints in public decision-making about GDF site selection.
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Zorica Radakovic-Guzina, Branko Damjanac, Tom Lam, Hossein A. Kasani
Summary: Evaluation of stability and damages in the geosphere surrounding a deep geological repository is crucial for assessing repository performance. In this study, a novel approach based on the bonded block model is used to simulate damage evolution and fracturing around the repository rooms. The results indicate that the hypothetical DGR configurations have good stability in both sedimentary and crystalline geological settings.
COMPUTERS AND GEOTECHNICS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Merle Bjorge, Phillip Kreye, Elisa Heim, Florian Wellmann, Wolfram Ruehaak
Summary: This study aims to evaluate the impact of uncertainties in geometry on the thermo-mechanical behavior of rock in nuclear waste management. Using a simplified model and stochastic simulations, the research found that variabilities in model geometries and material properties significantly affect the behavior of claystone, but do not significantly affect the integrity of the rock.
ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Geological
David Holton, David Roberts, Thomas Williams
Summary: This paper describes a methodology for evaluating the influence of thermal stress on fracture aperture around a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF), and presents calculations on an illustrative Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) to estimate the responses of the fractures to rock stress changes.
ENGINEERING GEOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Marine
S. Karthikeyan, S. Nallayarasu
Summary: The vortex-induced vibration (VIV) responses of an elastic cylinder were studied numerically using a two-way fluid-structure interaction model. The crossflow displacement responses obtained from experiments matched well with the results from the numerical simulations. Further parametric study revealed the presence of higher-order frequency components in the force coefficients but only a single frequency component in both crossflow and inline displacements.
Article
Nuclear Science & Technology
Ashley Marsh, Laurence G. Williams, James A. Lawrence
Summary: The effective management of radioactive waste is crucial for the utilization of nuclear energy, and the UK's policy involves disposal in a deep underground geological disposal facility. The GDF will need to safely contain radioactive materials for hundreds of thousands of years, with a combination of natural and engineered barriers providing the necessary isolation. Further research on the performance of engineered barriers is essential for the long-term safety of the GDF post-closure.
PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR ENERGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Elizaveta Klein, Susie M. L. Hardie, Wolfgang Kickmaier, Ian G. McKinley
Summary: A critical aspect of selecting sites for deep geological repositories for high-level radioactive waste is their ability to slow down the migration of radionuclides released from engineered barriers. Models play a crucial role in connecting field observations and laboratory studies on rock/water/radionuclide interactions. Despite remaining uncertainties, utilizing knowledge from anthropogenically contaminated sites can enhance safety cases for geological repositories.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Jan Verstricht, Xiang Ling Li, Didier Leonard, Maarten Van Geet
Summary: Monitoring plays a crucial role in the geological disposal of radioactive waste, and HADES URL in Belgium has accumulated valuable experience and sensor data. By assessing the performance of different sensor types, the reliability of monitoring can be improved.
GEOMECHANICS FOR ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Geological
Tsubasa Sasaki, Jonny Rutqvist
Summary: Safety assessment of geological nuclear waste repositories is essential. This study investigates the effect of time-dependent deformation of shale on the long-term integrity of a generic subsurface nuclear waste repository. Results suggest potential advantages of constructing repositories in high creep shale.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ROCK MECHANICS AND MINING SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Honghui Li, Ju Wang, Liang Mao, Shuaiwei Zhao, Meilan Jia, Yuchen Liu, Shulong Huang
Summary: A safety assessment conducted in the Beishan region of Gansu, China revealed that different key nuclides are released at different time periods. Se-79 and Cs-135 are the predominant nuclides released in the near field between 1000 and 4000 years after the repository closure. After 4000 years, Tc-99, Np-237, and U-235 become the key nuclides released in the near field. Within 5000 years after the closure of the repository, Se-79 is the dominant nuclide released from water fractures, with a peak release rate of 1 x 10(5) mol/m(3) at 4000 years. At 20,000 years after closure, Cs-135 becomes the key nuclide with a peak release rate of 5 x 10(6) mol/m(3) and a peak time of 100,000 years.
JOURNAL OF RADIOANALYTICAL AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Nuclear Science & Technology
Jung-Woo Kim, Hong Jang, Dong Hyuk Lee, Hyun Ho Cho, Jaewon Lee, Minjeong Kim, Heejae Ju
Summary: This study developed a safety assessment tool for geological disposal systems called APro, which is a systemically integrated modeling system based on modularizing and coupling the processes in a geological disposal system. The applicability of APro was demonstrated through sample simulations, and the technical connectivity between the model components was confirmed.
NUCLEAR ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Matthias Frankl, Mathieu Hursin, Dimitri Rochman, Alexander Vasiliev, Hakim Ferroukhi
Summary: A methodology for the final geological disposal of Swiss spent nuclear fuel is being developed by the Paul Scherrer Institute in collaboration with the Swiss National Technical Competence Centre. This approach includes burnup credit and aims to quantify uncertainties using the BUCSS-R scheme. The study reveals overestimation of nuclear data-related uncertainties and emphasizes the importance of consistent methods for nuclear data uncertainty quantification.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Geological
Lucas Martin Garino Libardi, Luciano Agustin Oldecop, Enrique Edgar Romero Morales, Roberto Lorenzo Rodriguez Pacheco
Summary: Case studies and numerical simulations have shown that the long-term stability of tailings dams is closely related to the change in their water content. This study focuses on the air-drying process of tailings, starting from a sludge condition. A conceptual model for the desiccation process is proposed based on experimental observations, which includes shrinkage and capillary rise mechanisms driven by evaporation. The role of dissolved salts in the desiccation process is also observed.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS-GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Geological
Aram Yakoby, Yossef H. Hatzor, Shmulik Pinkert
Summary: This work presents a comprehensive study on the stability of unsupported and supported vertical boreholes in deep geological deposits. The study focuses on the Yamin Plain area in Israel, which is designated for radioactive waste disposal and has uncertain in-situ stresses. A parametric factor of safety analysis is conducted, using both analytical calculations and advanced numerical analyses, to evaluate the stability of the boreholes with and without structural support. The study finds that a steel liner is safe under any in-situ stress scenario, HDPE liner is insensitive to liner thickness, and a certain thickness of concrete liner decreases stability.
ENGINEERING GEOLOGY
(2023)