scholarly journals Investigation of environmentally assisted fracture of metallic nuclear waste package barrier materials in simulated basalt repository environments

1982 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.G. Pitman
1986 ◽  
Vol 84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ned E. Bibler ◽  
Carol M. Jantzen

AbstractIn the geologic disposal of nuclear waste glass, the glass will eventually interact with groundwater in the repository system. Interactions can also occur between the glass and other waste package materials that are present. These include the steel canister that holds the glass, the metal overpack over the canister, backfill materials that may be used, and the repository host rock. This review paper systematizes the additional interactions that materials in the waste package will impose on the borosilicate glass waste form-groundwater interactions. The repository geologies reviewed are tuff, salt, basalt, and granite. The interactions emphasized are those appropriate to conditions expected after repository closure, e.g. oxic vs. anoxic conditions. Whenever possible, the effect of radiation from the waste form on the interactions is examined. The interactions are evaluated based on their effect on the release and speciation of various elements including radionuclides from the glass. It is noted when further tests of repository interactions are needed before long-term predictions can be made.


1983 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. R. Pederson ◽  
D. E. Clark ◽  
F. N. Hodges ◽  
G. L. Mcvpy ◽  
D. Rai

ABSTRACTThis paper discusses results of recent efforts to define the very near-field (within approximately 2m) environmental conditions to which waste packages will be exposed in a salt repository. These conditions must be considered in the experimental design for waste package materials testing, which includes corrosion of barrier materials and leaching of waste forms. Site-specific brine compositions have been determined, and “standard” brine compositions have been selected for testing purposes. Actual brine compositions will vary depending on origin, temperature, irradiation history, and contact with irradiated rock salt. Results of irradiating rock salt, synthetic brines, rock salt/brine mixtures, and reactions of irradiated rock salt with brine solutions are reported.


Author(s):  
Randy J. James ◽  
Kenneth Jaquay ◽  
Michael J. Anderson

The proposed geologic repository under development at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, will employ multiple shell metallic containers (waste packages) for the disposal of nuclear waste. The waste packages represent a primary engineered barrier for protection and containment of the radioactive waste, and the design of these containers must consider a variety of structural conditions to insure structural integrity. Some of the more challenging conditions for structural integrity involve severe impact loading due to hypothesized event sequences, such as drops or collisions during transport and placement. Due to interactions between the various components leading to complex structural response during an impact sequence, nonlinear explicit dynamic simulations and highly refined models are employed to qualify the design for these severe impact loads. This paper summarizes the Design by Analysis methodologies employed for qualification of waste package design under impact loading and provides several illustrative examples using these methods. Example evaluations include a collision of a waste package by the Transport and Emplacement Vehicle (TEV) and two scenarios due to seismic events, including WP impact within the TEV and impact by falling rock. The examples are intended to illustrate the stringent Design by Analysis methods employed and also highlight the scope of structural conditions included in the design basis for waste packages to be used for proposed nuclear waste storage at Yucca Mountain.


1987 ◽  
Vol 112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel B. Bullen ◽  
Gregory E. Gdowski ◽  
R. Daniel McCright

AbstractThe Nuclear Waste Management Program at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is responsible for the development of the waste package design to meet the Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensing requirements for the Nevada Nuclear Waste Storage Investigations (NNWSI) Project. The metallic container component of the waste package is required to assist in providing substantially complete containment of the waste for a period of up to 1000 years. Long term phase stability of the austenitic candidate materials (304L and 316L stainless steels and alloy 825) over this time period at moderate temperatures (100–250°C) can impact the mechanical and corrosion behavior of the metal barrier.A review of the technical literature with respect to phase stability of 304L, 316L and 825 is presented. The impact of martensitic transformations, carbide precipitation and intermediate (σ. χ, and η) phase formation on the mechanical properties and corrosion behavior of these alloys at repository relevant conditions is discussed. The effect of sensitization on intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) of each alloy is also addressed. A summary of the impact of phase stability on the degradation of each alloy in the proposed repository environment is included.


1984 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Westerman ◽  
S. G. Pitman

AbstractMild steels are considered to be strong candidates for waste package structural barrier (e.g., overpack) applications in salt repositories. Corrosion rates of these materials determined in autoclave tests utilizing a simulated intrusion brine based on Permian Basin core samples are low, generally μm (1 mil) per year. When the steels are exposed to moist salts containing simulated inclusion brines, the corrosion rates are found to increase significantly. The magnesium in the inclusion brine component of the environment is believed to be responsible for the increased corrosion rates.


2006 ◽  
Vol 985 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darrell Dunn ◽  
Yi-Ming Pan ◽  
Xihua He ◽  
Lietai Yang ◽  
Roberto Pabalan

ABSTRACTThe evolution of environmental conditions within the emplacement drifts of a potential high-level waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, may be influenced by several factors, including the temperature and relative humidity within the emplacement drifts and the composition of seepage water. The performance of the waste package and the drip shield may be affected by the evolution of the environmental conditions within the emplacement drifts. In this study, tests evaluated the evolution of environmental conditions on the waste package surfaces and in the surrounding host rock. The tests were designed to (i) simulate the conditions expected within the emplacement drifts; (ii) measure the changes in near-field chemistry; and (iii) determine environmental influence on the performance of the engineered barrier materials. Results of tests conducted in this study indicate the composition of salt deposits was consistent with the initial dilute water chemistry. Salts and possibly concentrated calcium chloride brines may be more aggressive than either neutral or alkaline brines.


1984 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet A. Schramke ◽  
Scott A. Simonson ◽  
David G. Coles

AbstractA series of hydrothermal experiments were carried out on 237Np- and 239Pu-doped PNL 76–68 glass, synthetic basalt groundwater, basalt, and cast steel. These hydrothermal experiments are part of the Basalt Waste Isolation Project investigation of the interactions of waste package components in a basalt repository. Experiments of three months duration were conducted in Dickson-type rocking autoclaves at 200°C and 30 MPa, with an initial fluid to solid weight ratio of 10:1. All solid materials were ground and sieved to a narrow size fraction. The experiments carried out were: glass and groundwater; glass, basalt, and groundwater; glass, steel, and groundwater; and glass, steel, basalt, and groundwater. Unfiltered, 4000 Â filtered, and 18 Å filtered solutions were analyzed to determine the concentrations of radionuclides in solution and those associated with colloids.The quantities of 237Np and 239Pu in solution were very small. Worstcase calculations indicate that 0.01% or less of the total radionuclide inventories were present in solution. The highest solution concentrations of the actinide dopants were observed in the experiments with basalt, even though smaller amounts of glass were dissolved than in the experiments without basalt. The observed differences in the solution concentrations of 237Np and 239Pu were probably controlled by differences in the reaction products, which were clinoptilolite in the experiments with basalt, and an Fe-Zn smectite clay in the experiments without basalt.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document