Disturbed Rock Zone Geomechanics at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant

Abstract

The disturbed rock zone constitutes an important geomechanical element of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. The science and engineering underpinning the disturbed rock zone provide the basis for evaluating ongoing operational issues and their impact on performance assessment. Contemporary treatment of the disturbed rock zone applied to the evaluation of the panel closure system and to a new mining horizon improves the level of detail and quantitative elements associated with a damaged zone surrounding the repository openings. Technical advancement has been realized by virtue of ongoing experimental investigations and international collaboration. Initial sections summarize and document theoretical and experimental results, which quantify characteristics of the disturbed rock zone as applied to nuclear waste repositories in salt. This information is then applied to operational issues pertaining to recertification of the repository.