Backfill Material Specifications and Requirements for the WIPP (Waste Isolation Pilot Plant) Simulated DHLW (Defense High Level Wastes) and TRU (Transuranic) Waste Technology Experiments

摘要

The widespread use of different backfill materials in the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) simulated Defense High Level Wastes (DHLW) and Transuranic (TRU) waste technology experiments presents the need for a complete description and in situ test of backfill materials. The description includes: backfill placement locations, material specifications, material requirements (i.e., volume and weight), and materials handling. This report describes and presents the physical layout of the experiments showing locations for backfill material placement; describes each backfill material; presents calculations of the volume/weight requirements for each material; and gives conceptual designs of equipment for material handling, transport, and emplacement. The six backfill materials described include: crushed salt; 70/30 (percent by weight) crushed salt/bentonite; 70/30 (percent by weight) bentonite/silica sand (low density); 70/30 bentonite/silica sand (high density); silica sand; and air (i.e., no backfill). 19 refs., 20 figs., 4 tabs. (ERA citation 12:040564)