Project lead

• Prof. Dr. Joachim Stahlmann, Institute of Foundation Engineering and Soil Mechanics, TU Braunschweig

Objective

Analyze and assess deep geological repositories concepts with arrangements for retrieval in different host rocks and depths.

• Verify technical feasibility of these concepts, even with regards to the necessary standing time and the required lining depending on the given host rock
• Assess the geotechnical and geomechanical implementation of concepts for the operational and post-operational phases with scenario analysis
• Assess advantages and disadvantages of each concept
• International exchange of experiences

WP Lead

• Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Joachim Stahlmann, Institute of Foundation Engineering and Soil Mechanics, TU Braunschweig

Participating Institutes

• Institute of Foundation Engineering and Soil Mechanics, TU Braunschweig

Objective

Adapt the life-cycle engineering to the special requirements of repositories based on the monitoring systems to be developed for the different waste management options in different host rocks.

• adapt the common life-cycle-engineering methods to the conditions underground
• enhance monitoring-systems based on results of the research projects MonA and MoDeRn, which allow the monitoring of geotechnical constructions for different waste management options in different host rocks

WP Lead

• Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Joachim Stahlmann, Institute of Foundation Engineering and Soil Mechanics, TU Braunschweig

Participating Institutes

• Institute of Foundation Engineering and Soil Mechanics, TU Braunschweig

Objective

Evaluate the long-term stability of geotechnical constructions, i.e. sealing, support lining and backfill with probabilistic methods.

• adapt existing geotechnical concepts to the options with arrangements for waste retrieval
• analyze the risk and timeframe when ground support linings and sealings will lose their functionality
• further development of the existing geotechnical concepts

WP Lead

• Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Joachim Stahlmann, Institute of Foundation Engineering and Soil Mechanics, TU Braunschweig

Participating Institutes

• Institute of Foundation Engineering and Soil Mechanics, TU Braunschweig

Objective

Developing monitoring programs on the basis of the WP 6.1, WP 6.2 and WP 6.3

WP Lead

• Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Joachim Stahlmann, Institute of Foundation Engineering and Soil Mechanics, TU Braunschweig

Participating Institutes

• Institute of Foundation Engineering and Soil Mechanics, TU Braunschweig

Objectives

• Determining the relations between the surroundings of the final storage, the storage container system and the radioactive waste as well as the resulting interactions from a materials science point of view for each waste management option
• Planning monitoring procedures regarding container integrity and changes in the surrounding conditions for the operational phase and a given timeframe after sealing the final storage in accordance with materials engineering and the characteristics of each waste management option; cross-linking / cooperation with other projects within the same transversal project and with WP 7.2
• Developing concepts for different scenarios in case of deviations from the expected measured values during monitoring
• Establishing an optimal basis supporting the decision-making process for a final storage site

WP management

• Dr.-Ing. T. Hassel, Institute of Materials Science, Leibniz Universität Hannover

Participating institutes

• Institute of Materials Science, Leibniz Universität Hannover

Objective

Adding a safely realizable state-of-the art concept for retrieval to the final storage planning which allows the safe removal of the waste containers from the final depository.

• Identification and evaluation of existing techniques for container handling and retrieval
• Determining the constraints of each waste management option
• Deducing requirements to the depository and the container systems which have to be fulfilled to ensure save retrieval
• Creating a decision matrix for the choice of suitable handling and retrieval techniques
• Developing retrieval strategies / retrieval techniques for the different final storage concepts based on constructive and materials science aspects

WP management

• Dr.-Ing. T. Hassel, Institute of Materials Science, Leibniz Universität Hannover

Participating institutes

• Institute of Materials Science, Leibniz Universität Hannover

Objective

Developing a concept for the in situ data collection and demonstration of safety-relevant phenomena during the monitoring phase of a deep geological repository

• Assembling safety relevant characteristics and processes which seem to be useful and achievable for measurements and observation during long-term monitoring of a deep geological repository; basis: WP 6.1 and 6.3
• Alignment with transversal project 4 „Interdisciplinary risk-research“
• Concept with opportunities of action during monitoring phase (e.g.: installing a stable shaft, building a shaft seal and measuring its hydraulic and mechanical characteristics; corresponding instrumentation)

WP Management

• Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Lux, Institute of Mineral and Waste Processing, Waste Disposal and Geomechanics, Clausthal University of Technology

Participating Institutes

• Institute of Mineral and Waste Processing, Waste Disposal and Geomechanics, Clausthal University of Technology
• Institute of Disposal Research, Clausthal University of Technology