Structural Stability of Stacked Disposal Containers in Silo-type Low- and Intermediate-level Waste Repository under Weight of Backfilling Materials

Abstract

The long-term structural stability of radioactive-waste repositories is important for isolating radionuclides from the biosphere. The weight of backfilling materials affects the stability of these repositories. This paper reports the results of fracture experiments and simulations performed on a 1:6 scale 16-pack disposal container to investigate its structural stability. The fracture experiment was performed by piling steel balls and lead blocks atop the container. In addition, fracture experiments and finite-element simulations were performed on a container reinforced with additional poles between 200-liter drum positions. The obtained results demonstrate the structural instability of the original container under the backfilling-material weight. Moreover, the reinforced container is observed to withstand a load that exceeds the backfilling-material weight. The benchmarking between the experimental and simulation results was accomplished by comparing the yield stresses and strains observed in both cases. These results can serve as background data to relieve the compressive-strength criterion of silo-type repositories.