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Thermo-mechanical Stability Analysis for a Multi-level Radioactive Waste Disposal Concept

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Abstract

To dispose of the spent fuels generated from the Korean nuclear power plants in an underground repository, a large area of about 4 km2 is required. This could be a constraint for selecting an adequate repository site and it is required to investigate the possibility of a multi-level repository design. In this study different parameters related to the multi-level repository design such as the level distance, waste type disposed of at each level, and the time interval between the operations at the levels, were investigated using the three-dimensional code, FLAC3D. For obtaining more reliable results, rock properties measured from deep boreholes were used. From the analysis, it was possible to conclude that a multi-level repository concept could be an attractive alternative to reduce the underground area as well as to dispose of the spent fuels from Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR) and Canadian Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) reactors at different levels with different time schedules.

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Correspondence to Sangki Kwon.

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Kwon, S., Choi, JW. Thermo-mechanical Stability Analysis for a Multi-level Radioactive Waste Disposal Concept. Geotech Geol Eng 24, 361–377 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-004-7935-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-004-7935-5

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