• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2015

Deep geological disposal is the preferred storage method for high-level radioactive waste, because it ensures stable long-term storage with minimal potential for human disruption. Because of the risk of groundwater contamination, a buffer of steel and bentonite layers has been proposed to prevent the leaching of radionuclides into groundwater. Quartz is one of the most common minerals in earth's crust. To understand how deformation and dissolution phenomena affect waste disposal, here we study quartz samples at pressure, temperature, and pH conditions typical of deep geological disposal sites. We perform a dissolution experiment for single quartz crystals under different pressure and temperature conditions. Solution samples are collected and the dissolution rate is calculated by analyzing Si concentrations in a solution excited by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). After completing the dissolution experiment, deformation of the quartz sample surfaces is investigated with a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). An empirical formula is introduced that describes the relationship between dissolution rate, pressure, and temperature. These results suggest that bentonite layers in engineering barrier systems may be vulnerable to thermal deformation, even when exposed to higher temperatures on relatively short timescales.

• Journal of the Korean Geophysical Society
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.207-209
• /
• 2005

The local magnitude scales yield in the Southern Korean Peninsula following the Richter's original definition are reviewed. In order to compare the previous ML scales, the new distance correction term of ML scale is derived as - log A 0 = 1.017 log ( r/17) + 0.00028 ( r-17)2 + 2 .0 using broadband velocity seismograms from 126 local events occured from 2000 to 2004. The attenuation rate of this formula fall between those of western and eastern North America. This result is in nearly accord with the ML scales proposed by Kim and Park(2002). The differences between various ML scales is owing to insufficient seismic data not to distribute whole area of Southern Korea.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 2022

Bentonite is the most probable candidate to be used as a buffer in a deep geological repository with high swelling properties, hydraulic conductivity, thermal conductivity, and radionuclide sorption ability. Among them, the radionuclide sorption ability prevents or delays the transport of radionuclides into the nearby environment when an accident occurs and the radionuclide leaks from the canister, so it needs to be strengthened in terms of long-term disposal safety. Here, we proposed a surface modification method in which some inorganic additives were added to form NaP zeolite on the surface of the bentonite yielded at Yeonil, South Korea. We confirmed that the NaP zeolite was well-formed on the bentonite surface, which also increased the sorption efficiency of Cs and Sr from groundwater conditions. Both NaP and NaX zeolite can be produced and we have demonstrated that the generation mechanism of NaX and NaP is due to the number of homogeneous/heterogeneous nucleation sites and the number of nutrients supplied from an aluminosilicate gel during the surface modification process. This study showed the potential of surface modification on bentonite to enhance the safety of deep geological radioactive waste repository by improving the radionuclide sorption ability of bentonite.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.23-41
• /
• 2023

Coupled thermo-hydraulic-mechanical (THM) processes are essential for the long-term performance of deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste. In this study, a numerical sensitivity analysis was performed to analyze the effect of rock properties on THM responses after the execution of the heater test at the Kamaishi mine in Japan. The TOUGH-FLAC simulator was applied for the numerical simulation assuming a continuum model for coupled THM analysis. The rock properties included in the sensitivity study were the Young's modulus, permeability, thermal conductivity, and thermal expansion coefficients of crystalline rock, rock salt, and clay. The responses, i.e., temperature, water content, displacement, and stress, were measured at monitoring points in the buffer and near-field rock mass during the simulations. The thermal conductivity had an overarching impact on THM responses. The influence of Young's modulus was evident in the mechanical behavior, whereas that of permeability was noticed through the change in the temperature and water content. The difference in the THM responses of the three rock type models implies the importance of the appropriate characterization of rock mass properties with regard to the performance assessment of the deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.23-35
• /
• 2007

With the development of semantic web technologies in information retrieval area, the necessity for thesaurus is recently increasing along with internet lexicons. A thesaurus is the combination of classification and a lexicon, and is the topic map of knowledge structure expressing relations among concepts(terms) subject to human knowledge activities such as learning and research using formally organized and controlled index terms for clarifying the context of superordinate and subordinate concepts. However, although thesaurus are regarded as essential tools for controlling and standardizing terms and searching and processing information efficiently, we do not have a Korean thesaurus for geology. To build a thesaurus, we need standardized and well-defined guidelines. The standardized guidelines enable efficient information management and help information users use correct information easily and conveniently. The present study purposed to build a thesaurus system with terms used in geology. For this, First, we surveyed related works for standardizing geological terms in Korea and other countries. Second, we defined geological topics in 15 areas and prepared a classification system(draft) for each topic. Third, based on the geological thesaurus classification system, we created the specification of geological thesaurus. Lastly, we designed and implemented an internet-based geological thesaurus system using the specification.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
• /
• 1999.10a
• /
• pp.201-208
• /
• 1999

The NATM(New Austrian Tunnelling Method) has been used for tunnelling since 1980's. But Collapses of tunnel under construction take place frequently, especially at urban areas because of adjacent buildings, underground conduits and traffic loads. This paper is a case study on the reinforcement method of subway tunnel at urban areas. In this study, ground inspection, geological investigation, laboratory test and numerical analysis by means of FDM program were carried out. The tunnel excavation was stopped because of over excessive brake of tunnel crown and shotcrete was installed to prevent deformation of adjacent ground as the temporary method. From the result of field survey and geological investigation, it is found that the soft weathered soil was distributed to the ground of tunnel invert unlike original investigation. The results of the analysis and the study show that the SGR(Space Grouting Rocket) method and Umbrella method can be applied for the stability of tunnel excavation and in addition the reinforcement of concrete lining is required for long-term stability of tunnel.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.23-38
• /
• 1999

This study addresses the reference spent fuel and its characteristics for developing a geological repository concept. As a disposal capacity of the reference repository system to be developed, spent fuel inventories were projected based on the basis of the Nuclear Energy Plan of the Long-term National Power Program. The reference spent fuel encompassing a variability in characteristics of all existing and future spent fuels of interest was defined. Key parameters in the reference fuel screening processes were the nuclear and mechanical design parameters and the burnup histories for existing spent fuels as of 1996 and for future spent fuels with the more extended burnup the initial enrichment and its expected turnup. The selected reference fuel was characterized in terms of initial enrichment, bumup, dimension, gross weight and age. Also the isotopic composition and the radiological properties are quantitatively identified. This information provided in this study could be used as input for repository system development and performance assessment and applied in fuel material balance evaluation for the various types of back-end fuel cycle studies.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.39 no.6
• /
• pp.697-702
• /
• 2007

Radioactive waste has been produced in the UK for many decades. Since the 1950' s much of this has been associated with civil nuclear power production and the nuclear weapons programme. There have been a number of unsuccessful attempts in the UK since the 1980s to deal with the waste and find suitable sites for its disposal. However, the UK Government has addressed this and in 2001 introduced the "Managing Radioactive Waste Safely" programme. The aim of this was to make decisions on the long-term radioactive waste management policy through stakeholder engagement. In 2006, it adopted a policy of geological disposal for higher activity wastes and following further consultations, is now at the stage of choosing how that policy should be implemented.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.38 no.6
• /
• pp.459-482
• /
• 2006

A geochemical approach to the long-term safety of waste disposal is discussed in connection with the significance of actinides, which shall deliver the major radioactivity inventory subsequent to the relatively short-term decay of fission products. Every power reactor generates transuranic (TRU) elements: plutonium and minor actinides (Np, Am, Cm), which consist chiefly of long-lived nuclides emitting alpha radiation. The amount of TRU actinides generated in a fuel life period is found to be relatively small (about 1 wt% or less in spent fuel) but their radioactivity persists many hundred thousands years. Geological confinement of waste containing TRU actinides demands, as a result, fundamental knowledge on the geochemical behavior of actinides in the repository environment for a long period of time. Appraisal of the scientific progress in this subject area is the main objective of the present paper. Following the introductory discussion on natural radioactivities, the nuclear fuel cycle is briefly brought up with reference to actinide generation and waste disposal. As the long-term disposal safety concerns inevitably with actinides, the significance of the aquatic actinide chemistry is summarized in two parts: the fundamental properties relevant to their aquatic behavior and the geochemical reactions in nanoscopic scale. The constrained space of writing allows discussion on some examples only, for which topics of the primary concern are selected, e.g. apparent solubility and colloid generation, colloid-facilitated migration, notable speciation of such processes, etc. Discussion is summed up to end with how to make a geochemical approach available for the long-term disposal safety of nuclear waste or for the performance assessment (PA) as known generally.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.393-399
• /
• 2020

In this study, the subsidence behavior caused by groundwater ex-flow in a limestone cavity encountered during tunnel excavation was quantified based on numerical analysis and the effect was analyzed. Based on the groundwater level and surface subsidence surveyed at the site, a numerical analysis technique was applied to analyze the characteristics of the subsidence behavior according to the tunnel passage of the geological vulnerabilities. The results of groundwater seepage-coupled analysis were analyzed to reflect the actual ground subsidence behavior. As a result of the study, it was analyzed that the ground subsidence due to the tunnel excavation in the limestone common section(the geological vulnerable zone) was analyzed that the dramatical decrease in groundwater level was the main cause. As a result of numerical analysis, it was analyzed that the long-term cumulative settlement of the asphalt surface after the groundwater ex-flow was 76~118mm due to the reduction of the volume of the soil layer due to the decrease in the groundwater level, and the settlement amount increased as the depth of the soil layer increased.