• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.369-376
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• 2003

In this paper, a nonlinear structural analysis for the composite structure composed of the spent nuclear fuel disposal canister and the 50㎝ thick bentonite buffer is carried out to predict the collapse of the canister while the horizontal symmetric sudden rock movement of 10㎝ is applied on the composite structure. This sudden rock movement is anticipated by the earthquake etc. at a deep underground. Elastoplastic material model is adopted. Drucket-Prager yield criterion is used for the material yield prediction of the bentonite buffer and von-Mises yield criterion is used for the material yield prediction of the canister(cast iron, copper). Analysis results show that even though very large deformations occur beyond the yield point in the bentonite buffet, the canister structure still endures elastic small strains and stresses below the yield strength. Hence, the 50㎝ thick bentonite buffet can protect the canister safely against the 10㎝ sudden rock movement by earthquake etc.. Analysis results also show that bending deformations occur in the canister structure due to the shear deformation of the bentonite buffer.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.515-523
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• 2001

In this paper results of a linear structural analysis for design and dimensioning of disposal containers for spent pressurized water reactor nuclear fuel and spent Canadian deuterium and uranium reactor nuclear fuel are presented. The container structure studied here is a solid structure with a cast insert and a corrosion resistant outer shell, which is designed for the spent nuclear fuel disposal in a deep repository. An evenly distributed load of hydrostatic pressure from the groundwater and large swelling pressure from the bentonite buffer are applied on the container. Hence, the container must be designed to endure these large pressure loads. In this study, the array type of inner baskets and thicknesses of outer shell and lid/bottom are attempted to be determined through a linear static structural analysis.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.157-164
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• 2007

The prediction of the temperature distribution change of the spent nuclear fuel disposal canister and its surrounding structures (bentonite buffer, granitic rock etc.) due to the spent fuel heat is very important for the design of the 500m deep granitic repository for the spent nuclear fuel disposal canister (about 10,000 years long) deposition. In this study, the temperature distribution change of the composite structure which comprises the canister, the bentonite buffer, the deposition tunnel due to the spent fuel heat is computed using the numerical analysis method. Specially, the temperature distribution change of the composite structure is analysed as the deposition time elapses up to m years. The analysis result shows that the temperature of each part of the repository increases slowly in different way but the latest part temperature increases slowly up to 150 years and thereafter decreases slowly.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.439-455
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• 2019

A buffer is the major component of a high level radioactive waste repository. Due to their thermal conductivity and low permeability, bentonites have been considered as a key component of a buffer system in most countries. The deep geological condition generates ground water inflow and results in swelling pressure in the buffer and backfill. Investigation of swelling pressure of bentonite buffer is an important task for the safe disposal system. The swelling pressure that can be critical is affected by mechanical and hydro properties of the system. Therefore, in this study, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to examine the effect of hydro-mechanical (HM) behaviors in the MX-80 bentonite. Based on the results of the swelling pressure generation with HM model parameters, a coupled HM analysis of an unsaturated buffer and backfill in a deep geological repository was also carried out to investigate the major factor of the swelling pressure generation.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.229-238
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• 2007

In this paper, structural design requirements and safety evaluation criteria of the spent nuclear fuel disposal canister are studied for deep geological deposition. Since the spent nuclear fuel disposal canister emits high temperature heats and much radiation, its careful treatment is required. For that, a long term(usually 10,000 years) safe repository for the spent nuclear fuel disposal canister should be secured. Usually this repository is expected to locate at a depth of 500m underground. The canister which is designed for the spent nuclear fuel disposal in a deep repository in the crystalline bedrock is a solid structure with cast iron insert, corrosion resistant overpack and lid and bottom, and entails an evenly distributed load of hydrostatic pressure from underground water and high pressure from swelling of bentonite buffer. Hence, the canister must be designed to withstand these high pressure loads. If the canister is not designed for all possible external loads combinations, structural defects such as plastic deformations, cracks, and buckling etc. may occur in the canister during depositing it in the deep repository. Therefore, various structural analyses must be performed to predict these structural problems like plastic deformations, cracks, and buckling. Structural safety evaluation criteria of the canister are studied and defined for the validity of the canister design prior to the structural analysis of the canister. And structural design requirements(variables) which affect the structural safety evaluation criteria should be discussed and defined clearly. Hence this paper presents the structural design requirements(variables) and safety evaluation criteria of the spent nuclear fuel disposal canister.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.270-275
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• 2003

The heat transfer analysis was conducted for the conceptual design of high level waste canisters. The temperature distribution due to the heat generation from four PWR spent fuel bundles which were contained in a canister located in a borehole 500 m below the surface was obtained. NISA computer program based upon FEM was used for the numerical solution. The temperature distribution in the composite system of $\ulcorner$canister ＋ buffer ＋ tunnel ＋ rock$\lrcorner$ due to heat generation from the spent fuel was obtained. In the case of 40m tunnel spacing and 6m borehole spacing the temperature showed the maximum value of $87.5^{\circ}C$around 15-16 years after disposal and decreased.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.19-26
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• 2002

In this paper, the nonlinear structural analysis for the composite structure of the spent nuclear fuel disposal container and the 50cm thick bentonite buffer is carried out to predict the collapse of the container while the sudden rock movement of 10cm is applied on the composite structure. This sudden rock movement is anticipated by the earthquake etc. at a deep underground. Horizontal symmetric rock movement is assumed in this structural analysis. Elastoplastic material model is adopted. Drucker-Prager yield criterion is used for the material yield prediction of the bentonite buffer and von-Mises yield criterion is used for the material yield prediction of the container(cast iron insert, copper outer shell and lid and bottom). Analysis results show that even though very large deformations occur beyond the yield point in the bentonite buffer, the container structure still endures elastic small strains and stresses below the yield strength. Hence, the 50cm thick bentonite buffer can protect the container safely against the 10cm sudden rock movement by earthquake etc.. Analysis results also show that bending deformations occur in the container structure due to the shear deformation of the bentonite buffer. The elastoplastic nonlinear structural analysis for the composite structure of the container and the bentonite buffer is performed using the finite element analysis code, NISA.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.471-480
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• 2002

In this paper, the thermal stress analysis of spent nuclear fuel disposal canister in a deep repository at 500 m underground is carried out for the basic design of the canister. Since the nuclear fuel disposal usually emits much heat, a long term safe repository at a deep bedrock is used. Under this situation, the canister experiences the thermal load due to the heat generation of spent nuclear fuels in the basket. Hence, in this paper the thermal stress analysis is executed using the finite element method. The finite clement code Eot the analysis Is not written directly, but a commercial code, NISA, is used because of the complexity of the structure and the large number of elements required for the analysis. The analysis result shows that even though the thermal stress is added to the stress generated by the hydrostatic underground water pressure and the swelling pressure of the bentonite buffer, the total stress is still smaller than the yield stress of the cast iron. Hence, the canister is still structurally safe when the thermal loads we included in the external loads applied on the canister.