Preliminary Safety Analysis of the Gorleben Site: Thermo-mechanical Analysis of the Integrity of the Geological Barrier in the Gorleben Salt Formation - 13307

Exploration work at the Gorleben salt dome has been carried out since 1977 to investigate the site regarding its suitability as a final repository for high-level radioactive wastes. In the framework of the 'Preliminary Safety Analysis of the Gorleben Site' a comprehensive assessment is being performed with focus on long-term safety. Because the integrity of the geological barrier is crucial for protection from damage caused by ionising radiation during the post-operational phase, 2D and 3D thermo-mechanical calculations for a reference section through the salt dome were carried out, all looking at two different waste emplacement concepts: emplacement in drifts and in boreholes. The calculated stresses are the basis for evaluating the barrier integrity on the basis of the dilatancy criterion and the fluid pressure criterion. (authors)