Publications Details
Site-specific thermal and mechanical property characterizations of in situ thermal test areas at Yucca Mountain, Nevada
The US Department of Energy (DOE) is investigating Yucca Mountain, Nevada as a potential site for the disposal of high-level nuclear waste. The site is located near the southwest corner of the Nevada Test Site (NTS) in southern Nye County, Nevada. The underground Exploratory Studies Facility (ESF) tunnel traverses part of the proposed repository block. Alcove 5, located within the ESF is being used to field two in situ ESF thermal tests: the Single Heater Test (SHT) and the Drift Scale Test (DST). Laboratory test specimens were collected from three sites within Alcove 5 including each in situ field test location and one additional site. The aim of the laboratory tests was to determine site-specific thermal and mechanical rock properties including thermal expansion, thermal conductivity, unconfined compressive strength, and elastic moduli. In this paper, the results obtained for the SHT and DST area characterization are compared with data obtained from other locations at the proposed repository site. Results show that thermal expansion, and mechanical properties of Alcove 5 laboratory specimens are slightly different than the average values obtained on specimens from surface drillholes.