Investigating the construction of open-quotes pyramidclose quotes super-structures to dispose of radioactive and hazardous waste

The technical challenges involved in disposing of radioactive and hazardous waste using systems that rely on open-quotes natural barriersclose quotes have been underestimated. Technology has advanced dramatically in the areas of materials, science, and engineering. As a result, traditional approaches to waste disposal must be rethought, focusing instead on ways to apply new technology breakthroughs to waste disposal problems. This paper will discuss problems currently faced by waste disposal systems that rely on natural barriers for containment, propose a general design and approach for constructing pyramid super-structures to dispose of (and store) waste, and present the benefits of such a system. The originality of this paper is that it proposes the construction of fully retrievable waste disposal systems that capitalize on the unique geometric properties of a pyramid and rely on engineered barriers and preventive measurements for containment, rather than natural barriers. In addition, this paper offers a new perspective on waste disposal issues confronting many countries. The desired effect is that by challenging conventional thought, new ideas could be developed to help solve existing problems. This paper is of specific interest to: (1) Policy makers, decisionmakers, and managers because the paper discusses the root causes of problems facing waste disposal and possible solutions. (2) Regulators because the paper discusses reasons for relying more on engineered barriers and preventive measurements to achieve confidence and reliability in containment. (3) Design engineers the paper offers new concepts for engineered barriers. 21 refs., 2 figs., 2 tabs