Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Chemical Analyses In Support Of Yucca Mountain Studies, Jeanette Daniels, Klaus J. Stetzenbach, Drew Coleman, Amy J. Smiecinski, Raymond E. Keeler

Publications (YM)

The objective of this task “Chemical Analyses in Support of Yucca Mountain Studies” is to provide the Department of Energy (DOE) with data and reports from comprehensive chemical analyses of waters sampled from the wells of the Nye County Early Warning Drilling Program (NCEWDP), the Inyo County’s Drilling Program, and the Nye county Tracer Test. In addition, this task will be used to provide other laboratory support needs as they arise within the Yucca Mountain Project. This support is provided by the Harry Reid Center for Environmental Studies (HRC) at University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), which is part of …

Groundwater Flow And Thermal Modeling To Support A Preferred Conceptual Model For The Large Hydraulic Gradient North Of Yucca Mountain, Phil Oberlander, Greg Pohll, Drew Coleman, Raymond E. Keeler, Amy J. Smiecinski

Publications (YM)

This task will create a two-dimensional, saturated zone, vertical cross-section model of groundwater flow and thermal transport through the large hydraulic gradient (LHG). This model is referenced herein as the thermal model. The scope of this study is limited to presenting a postulated hydrogeologic configuration of the LHG. The conceptualization will include the use of postulated hydrogeologic structures and material properties. The thermal model will be spatially limited to the area immediately upgradient and downgradient of the LHG and will not reproduce the many hydrogeologic features of the existing regional and site-scale models. The thermal model will be orientated north …

Long-Term Mechanical Behavior Of Yucca Mountain Tuffs, And Its Variability, Jaak J.K. Daemen, George Danko, Jaime Gonzalez, Amy J. Smiecinski, Raymond E. Keeler

Publications (YM)

We propose to continue the investigation of the long term strength of Yucca Mountain tuffs, with particular emphasis on tuffs from and near the emplacement horizon. We propose to also continue and expand the investigation of the spatial variability of rock strength and stiffness. An intrinsic component of this planned rock testing is the testing of rock joints. Although the emphasis is on tests aimed at determining long term strength, as part of the testing measurements of stiffness also are collected, and will be collected, reported, and analyzed.

Influence Of Lithophysae Geometry And Distribution On Mechanical Properties Of Topopah Spring Tuff, Mohammad Shahidul Islam, Justin Fenton, Moses Karakouzian, Jaime Gonzalez, Amy J. Smiecinski, Raymond E. Keeler

Publications (YM)

The current Site Recommendation study for the proposed high level nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain locates the repository emplacement drifts approximately 81% within the lower lithophysal unit of the Topopah Springs Formation (Tptpll), 4% within the upper lithophysal unit of the Topopah Springs Formation (Tptpul), and roughly 15% within the middle, non-lithophysal unit (Tptpmn) of the same formation. A major geomechanical issue facing the Yucca Mountain Project is to understand the thermomechanical behavior of lithophysal tuff, which comprises roughly 85% of the repository host rock.

Experimental Investigation Of Time Dependent Behavior Of Welded Topopah Spring Tuff, Lumin Ma

Publications (YM)

Four types of laboratory tests have been performed. Specimens were attained from four lithophysal zones of the welded Topopah Spring Tuff unit at Yucca Mountain, Nevada: upper lithophysal, middle nonlithophysal, lower lithophysal and lower nonlithophysal zones. Two types of tests are conducted to study time-dependent behavior: constant strain rate and creep tests. Sixty five specimens from the middle nonlithophysal zone were tested at six strain rates: 10 , 10 , 10 , 10 , 10 , and 10 . Test durations range from 2 seconds to 7 days. Fourteen specimens from middle nonlithophysal, lower lithophysal and lower nonlithophysal zones are …

Point Load Strength Testing Of Irregular Rock Fragments Of Welded Tuff, Jaak J.K. Daemen, George Danko, Amy J. Smiecinski

Publications (YM)

Yucca Mountain is composed of a thick sequence of variably welded and nonwelded ashflow tuffs (Rautman and Engstrom, 1996). The understanding of the rock mechanical properties is useful for characterizing the mechanical stability of the potential repository and for estimating the amount of ground support needed in underground construction (Sweetkind et al, 2003). According to Brook (1993), knowledge of lump point load strength is helpful because it can help in estimating the compressive strength. Lump point load testing is one basic mechanical characterization test to support the study of long term drift stability at the potential High Level Waste repository …

A Long Baseline Laser Strainmeter For The Exploratory Studies Facility At Yucca Mountain, Frank K. Wyatt, James N. Brune, Drew Coleman, Don Baepler, Amy J. Smiecinski

Publications (YM)

This Scientific Investigation Plan (SIP), for work under the second Department of Energy/University and Community College System of Nevada (DOE/UCCSN) Cooperative Agreement (10/01/03), DEFC28- 04RW12232, is intended to cover the laser strainmeter operation and monitoring task being conducted by the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), under the oversight of the Nevada Seismological Laboratory of the University of Nevada-Reno (NSL/UNR). UCSD has carried out the design, engineering, and installation of the east-west laser strainmeter (LSM) currently in place in the Exploratory Studies Facility (ESF) at Yucca Mountain.

Chemical Analyses For Alcove 8/Niche 3 Tracer Studies, Jeanette Daniels, Klaus J. Stetzenbach, Drew Coleman, Don Baepler, Amy J. Smiecinski

Publications (YM)

The objective of this task “Analytical Support For Tracer Studies in Alcove 8 / Niche 3” is to provide chemical analyses for the tracer studies at Alcove 8 / Niche 3 in the Exploratory Studies Facilities (ESF). This analytical support includes developing procedures for measuring tracer concentrations and then performing the tracer (and other background constituent) analyses for the water samples generated from each Alcove 8 / Niche 3 tracer test. These tracer tests are part of the Flow and Seepage Testing in Alcove 8/Niche 3 (TWP-NBS-HS-000004 REV 00). The overall goal of this study is to quantify large scale …

Time Dependent Mechanical Behavior Of Welded Tuff, Jaak J.K. Daemen, George Danko, Amy J. Smiecinski

Publications (YM)

This part of the Technical Report includes four types of experimental studies: strain rate dependence, uniaxial creep, Brazilian (Indirect splitting) tensile strength and uniaxial compressive strength. These are presented in four chapters. One hundred twenty one specimens have been tested in uniaxial compression. Ninety three of these are included in the strain rate dependence study, presented in Chapter 2. Uniaxial compression strain rates range from about 10~8 to 10~2 s~l. Results of twenty eight tests are presented in Chapter 5, which describes uniaxial compression testing of specimens containing major lithophysal cavities. Fourteen specimens have been tested in uniaxial creep, presented …

Drift Scale Test: Analyze And Report, George Danko, Davood Bahrami, Amy J. Smiecinski

Publications (YM)

This report summarizes the results of the in situ thermophysical properties measurements as part of the Drift Scale Test (DST) measurement program at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Thermophysical measurements have been performed with three built-in thermal probes since November 13, 1997 and were expected to continue for three more years until the end of the DST cooling period. The Department of Energy (DOE), under Cooperative Agreement, Number DEFC28- 98NV12081, has funded a research project at the University of Nevada, Reno since November, 1999 titled: "Continuing site characterization and performance verification applications with the REKA method at Yucca Mountain, Task 13." This …

Stress Corrosion Cracking Studies, K. S. Raja, S. Namjoshi, Amy J. Smiecinski

Publications (YM)

This document reports on the activities for Task 17 of the U.S. DOE/UCCSN Cooperative Agreement Number DE-FC28-98NV12081. There are three subtasks in this Task, the experimental results, discussions, and conclusions of which are presented in the following sections. Data Sources and Electronic Data Control The Data Identification numbers for the data, graphs, and tables in this report, as submitted to the Data Management Database, are tabulated below. The table also includes the source files for the said data as well as the corresponding scientific notebooks where the data can be found. All data in the Q section of the report …

Ground Water Level Measurements In Selected Boreholes Near The Site Of The Proposed Repository, H. Scott Page, Klaus J. Stetzenbach, Drew Coleman, Don Baepler, Amy J. Smiecinski

Publications (YM)

The objective of this task is to provide ground water level measurements of known accuracy and precision using manual and electronic methods. The HRC will use field-proven protocols and established implementing procedures for all aspects of data collection, analysis, management, and reporting. The water level measurements produced by this program will yield quality-assured data that can be reliably used for a variety of purposes including: continued site characterization, refinement of the local potentiometric surface, inputs to the Death Valley Regional Flow Model and related hydrologic characterization, to fulfill permit conditions issued by the State of Nevada, to monitor seismically-induced ground …

Precipitation Monitoring At Yucca Mountain, Amanda Brandt, Klaus J. Stetzenbach, Drew Coleman, Donald H. Baepler, Amy J. Smiecinski

Publications (YM)

This work will be conducted under Task ORD-FY04-007, “Precipitation Monitoring at Yucca Mountain”. The objective of this task is to measure, with known accuracy, the accumulation and timing of precipitation around Yucca Mountain using tipping bucket rain gauges. The data are used as part of the overall work supporting the net infiltration modeling Analysis Model Report, Simulation of Net Infiltration for Modern and Potential Future Climates, and the Performance Confirmation Plan. This work is subject to UCCSN QA program requirements. This SIP presents an independent confirmatory study supporting previously gathered information.

Yucca Mountain Climate Technical Support Representative, Saxon E. Sharpe, Dick Reinhardt, Eric Smistad, Don Baepler, Amy J. Smiecinski

Publications (YM)

The principal investigator (PI), Saxon Sharpe, for Task ORD-FY04-012, DOE Cooperative Agreement DE-FC28-04RW12232, will serve as Yucca Mountain Climate Technical Support Representative for the Department of Energy (DOE) in a series of activities related to past, present, and future climate for the Yucca Mountain Project (YMP) climate program.

As stated in the Viability Assessment of a Repository at Yucca Mountain: “Climate and its changes over time directly affect system performance at Yucca Mountain.” Currently, information from climate studies is used in models that support the Total System Performance Assessment and Licensing Application. It is a model component of all key …

Southern Great Basin Seismic Network Operations, David Von Seggern, James N. Brune, Rasool Anooshehpoor, Drew Coleman, Don Baepler, Amy J. Smiecinski

Publications (YM)

QAP-3.0 (Scientific Investigation Control) of the University and Community College System of Nevada (UCCSN) Quality Assurance (QA) program requires that, prior to initiating work, a Scientific Investigation Plan (SIP) must be prepared and approved. This SIP is intended to cover the seismic monitoring task performed by the Nevada Seismological Laboratory (NSL). The purpose of this SIP is to describe the high-level planning for the overall task such that it can be referred to by individual scientific notebooks. Due to the continuation nature of this task, this SIP contains language that may be considered generic so that new subtasks …

Experimental Determination Of Stiffness Of Joints In Welded Tuff, Jaak J.K. Daemen, George Danko, Amy J. Smiecinski

Publications (YM)

Fourteen uniaxial joint compression tests were run to determine the normal and shear stiffnesses of type 1 fracture joints (healed joints filled with vapor-phase mineral deposits) obtained from the Yucca Mountain site. The uniaxial joint compression results show that these joints behave linearly up to over 85% of their loading history. They are stiff with strengths very close to the strength of the intact rock. Five direct shear tests were run on open, separated, joints. Results obtained from the direct shear testing show that the normal stiffness increases with increasing normal stress. Shearing through asperities gives high joint shear stiffness …