Computer Program to Facilitate Performance Assessment of Underground Low-Level Waste Concrete Vaults.
Computer Program to Facilitate Performance Assessment of
Underground Low-Level Waste Concrete Vaults.
(318 K)
Snyder, K. A.; Clifton, J. R.; Pommersheim, J. M.
Materials Research Society. Materials Research Society
Symposium Proceedings Volume 412. 1996, 491-498 pp,
1996.
Keywords:
building technology; concretes; vaults; computer
programs; degradation; advection diffusion; chemical
equilibrium; physical parameters; validation; transport
equation
Abstract:
A computer program (4SIGHT) to facilitate performance
assessment of underground concrete vaults for low level
waste (LLW) disposal facilities is being developed at
the National Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST). Specifically, the program predicts the
hydraulic conductivity and the service life of an
underground concrete vault. The hydraulic conductivity
estimate is based upon empirical relations. The service
life is estimated from consideration of three major
degradation processes: steel reinforcement corrosion,
sulfate attack, and leaching. The performance
prediction is based upon ion transport equations for
both diffusion and advection. Most importantly, the
computer program incorporates the synergistic
degradation effects of all three processes, and their
effect upon the transport coefficients.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899