TY - JOUR
T1 - Influence of fracture networks on radionuclide transport fromsolidified waste forms
AU - Seetharam, Suresh
AU - Perko, Janez
AU - Jacques, Diederik
AU - Mallants, Dirk
N1 - Score = 10
PY - 2014/4/15
Y1 - 2014/4/15
N2 - Analysis of the effect of fractures in porous media on fluid flow and mass transport is of great interest in many fields including geotechnical, petroleum, hydrogeology and waste management. This paper presents sensitivity analyses examining the effect of various hypothetical fracture networks on the performance of a planned near surface disposal facility in terms of radionuclide transport behaviour. As it is impossible to predict the initiation and evolution of fracture networks and their characteristicsin concrete structures over time scales of interest, several fracture networks have been postulated to test the sensitivity of radionuclide release from a disposal facility. Fluid flow through concrete matrix and fracture networks are modelled via Darcy’s law. A single species radionuclide transport equation isemployed for both matrix and fracture networks, which include the processes advection, diffusion, dis-persion, sorption/desorption and radioactive decay. The sensitivity study evaluates variations in fracture network configuration and fracture width together with different sorption/desorption characteristicsof radionuclides in a cement matrix, radioactive decay constants and matrix dispersivity.
AB - Analysis of the effect of fractures in porous media on fluid flow and mass transport is of great interest in many fields including geotechnical, petroleum, hydrogeology and waste management. This paper presents sensitivity analyses examining the effect of various hypothetical fracture networks on the performance of a planned near surface disposal facility in terms of radionuclide transport behaviour. As it is impossible to predict the initiation and evolution of fracture networks and their characteristicsin concrete structures over time scales of interest, several fracture networks have been postulated to test the sensitivity of radionuclide release from a disposal facility. Fluid flow through concrete matrix and fracture networks are modelled via Darcy’s law. A single species radionuclide transport equation isemployed for both matrix and fracture networks, which include the processes advection, diffusion, dis-persion, sorption/desorption and radioactive decay. The sensitivity study evaluates variations in fracture network configuration and fracture width together with different sorption/desorption characteristicsof radionuclides in a cement matrix, radioactive decay constants and matrix dispersivity.
KW - Fracture flow and transport
KW - concrete
KW - performance assessment
KW - concrete degradation
UR - http://ecm.sckcen.be/OTCS/llisapi.dll/open/ezp_137438
UR - http://knowledgecentre.sckcen.be/so2/bibref/11999
U2 - 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2013.12.048
DO - 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2013.12.048
M3 - Article
SN - 0029-5493
VL - 270
SP - 162
EP - 175
JO - Nuclear Engineering and Design
JF - Nuclear Engineering and Design
IS - 15/04
ER -