Preliminary investigation of the thermal and structural influence of crushed-salt backfill on repository disposal rooms

The thermal and structural influence of crushed salt backfill within a typical disposal room was investigated. The crushed salt backfill does not significantly influence the heat transfer away from the waste canister region. The degree of consolidation within the crushed salt backfill was assessed to be minimal within a disposal room completely backfilled. If the disposal room was backfilled to approximately 90 percent of capacity, the consolidation of the crushed salt would be almost non-existent. The presence of crushed salt backfill during the initial 25 years after waste emplacement should not significantly enhance or degrade the structural or thermal behavior within the disposal room. However, for greater time, the crushed salt backfill would provide greater structural stability and reduce surface subsidence