Heated block test conceptual design calculations

Finite element calculations are presented as part of the conceptual design of a heated block test. The test will be part of a field test program to measure in situ thermomechanical and hydrologic characteristics of welded tuff at the Nevada Test Site, including thermal and elastic constants and joint permeability. The present analysis involves only thermal and thermomechanical calculations. These give insight into the optimal placement and power level of heaters, the magnitude of temperature and stress to be expected from the proposed test sequence, and the behavior of a joint field under this stess