Thermomechanical analyses of conceptual repository designs for the Paradox and Permian Basins

The potential repositories are designed to accommodate all waste forms emplaced at various thermal loadings; specifically, commercial high-level waste (30 W/m/sup 2/), spent fuel (15 W/m/sup 2/), defense high-level waste (20 W/m/sup 2/), and remote-handled and contact-handled transuranic nonheat-generating waste. The study evaluates the design parameters, primarily thermal loading, based on a comparison of calculable thermomechanical parameters with prescribed performance constraints. This evaluation was accomplished by numerical simulation using finite element techniques of the canister, disposal room, and repository regions of each potential site. Important thermal and thermomechanical results were compared with their prescribed constraint or limit value. All of the performance constraints were satisfied at the Davis Canyon site in the Paradox Basin for commercial high-level waste, spent fuel, and defense high-level waste at areal thermal loadings of 20 W/m/sup 2/, 15 W/m/sup 2/, and 20 W/m/sup 2/, respectively. Similarly, for the Deaf Smith County site in the Permian Basin, commercial high-level waste, spent fuel, and defense high-level waste thermal loadings of 13.5 W/m/sup 2/, 8.5 W/m/sup 2/, and 6.0 W/m/sup 2/, respectively, satisfied all of the performance constraints. 89 refs., 64 figs., 22 tabs.