Engineering Safeguard for Accidental Release of Radionuclides from Radioactive Waste Ground Disposal Site, (I)

Abstract

Feasibility of an underground impermeable wall was discussed for controlling radioactively contaminated groundwater zone around a radioactive waste ground disposal site. Fundamental equations, which describe variation of groundwater table and a radionuclide (80Sr) migration in the saturated zone, were analyzed and distribution of 90Sr was estimated in case with and/or without an impermeable underground wall. The results obtained in this paper are as follows: (1) Underground impermeable wall might be feasible as an engineering safeguard for controlling radioactively contaminated groundwater. (2) Underground impermeable wall might be used more effectively when the geologic stratum is heterogeneous than when the stratum is uniform around a waste disposal site. (3) Underground impermeable wall of type E is most promising under considered conditions. The wall of type E is assumed to be built across the zone with higher flow rate of groundwater. © 1978, Atomic Energy Society of Japan. All rights reserved.