Publications

Salt reconsolidation applied to repository seals

Hansen, Francis D.; Popp, T.; Wieczorek, K.; Stührenberg, D.

An excellent scientific understanding of salt reconsolidation mechanisms has been established from experimental results and observational microscopy. Thermal, mechanical, and fluid transport properties of reconsolidating granular salt are fundamental to the design, analysis, and performance assessment of potential salt repositories for heat-generating nuclear waste. Application of acquired knowledge to construction techniques could potentially achieve high-performance seal properties upon construction or during the repository operational period, which lessens reliance on modeling to argue for evolving engineering characteristics and attainment of sealing functions at some future time. The robust database could be augmented by select reconsolidation experiments with admixtures and analogue studies with appropriate documentation of microprocesses.