Mechanics of Jointed and Faulted Rock, Proceedings of the International Conference on Mechanics of Jointed and Faulted Rock, Institute of Mechanics, Technical University of Vienna, 18–20 April 1990
Authors: L. S. Costin and S. J. Bauer (Sandia National Laboratories), and M. P. Hardy (AAI)
The Yucca Mountain Project, managed by the Nevada Operations Office of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is examining the feasibility of siting a repository for high-level nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, on and adjacent to the Nevada Test Site. Excavation stability will be required during construction, waste emplacement, retrieval (if required), and closure, covering a period of approximately 100 years. In order to incorporate a means of evaluating excavation stability in the design process, a drift design methodology has been developed. This methodology uses both empirical and analytical methods in conjunction with detailed descriptions of site conditions to evaluate a proposed design. At present, the emphasis is on analytical numerical methods because of the limited experience in tuff at elevated temperatures. Proposed methods for analysis of systematically jointed, isotropically jointed, and widely spaced, discretely jointed rock masses are described.
