Impact analysis of earthquake-induced cracks in deep geological repositories for nuclear waste fuel

Based on the concept of deep geologic repositories, high-level radioactive waste will be stored in deep deposition holes away from the ground surface. The heat generated by the waste will induce both significant stress increments and ground water seepage in a multiple geologic barrier system. The long-term ability of a barrier system is significantly impacted by coupling between the thermal, hydrological, and mechanical processes. The stability of a system may also depend particularly upon unanticipated factors such as the development of post-earthquake macrocracks. Therefore, this study investigates the three-dimensional transient and long term thermo- hydro-mechanical behavior of a barrier system. The results can be used for future reference in practical engineering design.