Other Projects

Consolidation of Simulated Waste and Crushed Rock Salt: Experimental studies and modeling of compaction, consolidation, and strength of simulated TRU waste components, buffer materials, and crushed rock salt backfill (sponsor: Waste Isolation Pilot Plant Project).

High-Temperature Laboratory Creep Data for Special Concretes: Experimental studies and modeling of creep and relaxation in concrete at temperatures up to 200°C for applications to repository design (sponsor: Yucca Mountain Project).

Flow in Fractured Rock: Determination and modeling of the relationships between fluid permeability and imposed stresses for single fractures (sponsor: Yucca Mountain Project).

In Situ Rock Mass Characterization: Use of active and passive ultrasonic transducer arrays to study the development of disturbed zone around openings in salt (sponsor: Waste Isolation Pilot Plant Project).

In Situ Geomechanics Testing: Design and implementation of large-scale in situ thermal/mechanical tests to study the thermal, hydrological, and mechanical behavior of rock mass under thermal loading (sponsor: Yucca Mountain Project).

Thermal Properties of Rocks and Ceramics: Laboratory determination of thermal expansion and thermal conductivity of intact rock and other materials for modeling response under large temperature changes (sponsor: Yucca Mountain Project).

Development and Demonstration of Alternative Landfill Covers: Development of landfill cover concepts and field demonstrations using capillary barriers and other techniques to address the unique problems of landfills in arid environments (sponsor: Office of Environment Management).