High-resolution surface topographic change analyses to characterize a series of underground explosions
Not Available
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Engineering topics
Kelley, Richard E.
Publications and source records attributed to Kelley, Richard E..
The Source Physics Experiment (SPE) Science Plan (Version 2.4c)
The Source Physics Experiment (SPE) series is a long-term NNSA research and development effort designed to improve U.S. arms control and nuclear nonproliferation verification and monitoring capabilities. The findings from the SPE will advance the United States’ nuclear explosion monitoring capabilities, particularly with respect to detection, discrimination and determination of yields associated with small nuclear explosions that can be lost amid the noisy seismo-acoustic background from other sources. The data generated from the SPE, a series of well-designed and recorded chemical explosions, will contribute to the development and validation of first-principles explosive source generated seismo-acoustic modeling codes. These codes will then facilitate the update of semi-empirical methods, currently based on historic test site data, such that key explosion observables can be reproduced, thus improving confidence in nuclear test monitoring in new areas and/or under novel emplacement conditions. The overall SPE project is comprised of both the development of the new explosion simulation codes and the chemical explosion test series. The chemical explosion test series will generate the empirical data required to both develop and validate the new simulation codes.
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Quaternary tephra from the Valles caldera in the volcanic field of the Jemez Mountains of New Mexico identified in western Canada
A fine-grained, up to 3-m-thick tephra bed in southwestern Saskatchewan, herein named Duncairn tephra (Dt), is derived from an early Pleistocene eruption in the Jemez Mountains volcanic field of New Mexico, requiring a trajectory of northward tephra dispersal of ~1500 km. An unusually low CaO content in its glass shards denies a source in the closer Yellowstone and Heise volcanic fields, whereas a Pleistocene tephra bed (LSMt) in the La Sal Mountains of Utah has a very similar glass chemistry to that of the Dt, supporting a more southerly source. Comprehensive characterization of these two distal tephra beds along with samples collected near the Valles caldera in New Mexico, including grain size, mineral assemblage, major- and trace-element composition of glass and minerals, paleomagnetism, and fission-track dating, justify this correlation. Two glass populations each exist in the Dt and LSMt. The proximal correlative of Dt1 is the plinian Tsankawi Pumice and co-ignimbritic ash of the first ignimbrite (Qbt1g) of the 1.24 Ma Tshirege Member of the Bandelier Tuff. Finally, the correlative of Dt2 and LSMt is the co-ignimbritic ash of Qbt2. Mixing of Dt1 and Dt2 probably occurred during northward transport in a jet stream.
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Regional Geologic Evaluations for Disposal of HLW and SNF: Alluvial Basins of the Basin and Range Province
The DOE Spent Fuel and Waste Technology (SFWT) R&D Campaign supports research on crystalline rock, shale (argillite) and salt as potential host rocks for disposal of HLW and SNF in a mined geologic repository. Modeling involving these host rocks for the generic GDSA reference cases has assumed saturated conditions at repository depths. In order to test two-phase flow capabilities of the GDSA flow and transport models, the SFWT Campaign is developing an unsaturated zone reference case. Alluvial basin-fill deposits within the Basin and Range province have unsaturated zones that can be as thick as 600 meters, although the thickness is typically much less. Basin-fill alluvium has been considered as a potential medium for HLW disposal in the US since the 1950s (NAS,1957; Smyth et al., 1979; Winograd, 1981). Attributes considered favorable for HLW disposal in alluvium in the Basin and Range province include an arid environment, low water flux , high sorption capacity (from clay s and zeolites), and ease of construction and stability of repository openings (Hardin et al., 2012). Hardin et al. (2012) also address the thermal issues inherent in the design of a HLW repository in alluvium with low thermal conductivity, which are not discussed in this report.
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Cliff Retreat Characterization at Technical Area 54, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL or the Laboratory) generates radioactive waste as a result of various activities. Operational waste is generated from a wide variety of Laboratory functions; environmental restoration and decontamination and decommissioned waste is generated as contaminated sites and facilities undergo cleanup or remediation. The majority of this waste is low-level radioactive waste and is disposed of at the Technical Area (TA) 54, Area G disposal facility. Area G includes Material Disposal Area (MDA) G, the portion of the facility that currently receives waste, and the Zone 4 expansion area located immediately west of MDAG. The Laboratory no longer plans to use the Zone 4 expansion area.
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Regional Geologic Evaluations for Disposal of HLW and SNF: The Pierre Shale of the Northern Great Plains
The DOE Spent Fuel and Waste Technology (SWFT) R&D Campaign is supporting research on crystalline rock, shale (argillite) and salt as potential host rocks for disposal of HLW and SNF in a mined geologic repository. The distribution of these three potential repository host rocks is limited to specific regions of the US and to different geologic and hydrologic environments (Perry et al., 2014), many of which may be technically suitable as a site for mined geologic disposal. This report documents a regional geologic evaluation of the Pierre Shale, as an example of evaluating a potentially suitable shale for siting a geologic HLW repository. This report follows a similar report competed in 2016 on a regional evaluation of crystalline rock that focused on the Superior Province of the north-central US (Perry et al., 2016).
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Data to Support Development of Geologic Framework Models for the Deep Borehole Field Test
This report summarizes work conducted in FY2017 to identify and document publically available data for developing a Geologic Framework Model (GFM) for the Deep Borehole Field Test (DBFT). Data was collected for all four of the sites being considered in 2017 for a DBFT site.
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A Global Survey of Deep Underground Facilities; Examples of Geotechnical and Engineering Capabilities, Achievements, Challenges (Mines, Shafts, Tunnels, Boreholes, Sites and Underground Facilities for Nuclear Waste and Physics R&D): A Guide to Interactive Global Map Layers, Table Database, References and Notes
These associated tables, references, notes, and report present a synthesis of some notable geotechnical and engineering information used to create four interactive layer maps for selected: 1) deep mines and shafts; 2) existing, considered or planned radioactive waste management deep underground studies or disposal facilities 3) deep large diameter boreholes, and 4) physics underground laboratories and facilities from around the world. These data are intended to facilitate user access to basic information and references regarding “deep underground” facilities, history, activities, and plans. In general, the interactive maps and database provide each facility’s approximate site location, geology, and engineered features (e.g.: access, geometry, depth, diameter, year of operations, groundwater, lithology, host unit name and age, basin; operator, management organization, geographic data, nearby cultural features, other). Although the survey is not comprehensive, it is representative of many of the significant existing and historical underground facilities discussed in the literature addressing radioactive waste management and deep mined geologic disposal safety systems. The global survey is intended to support and to inform: 1) interested parties and decision makers; 2) radioactive waste disposal and siting option evaluations, and 3) safety case development applicable to any mined geologic disposal facility as a demonstration of historical and current engineering and geotechnical capabilities available for use in deep underground facility siting, planning, construction, operations and monitoring.
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The youngest silicic eruptions from the Valles Caldera and volcanic hazard potential in north-central New Mexico
Here, sporadic mafic and felsic eruptions, representing at least five major and several smaller pulses of effusive and explosive volcanic products that range in age from 25.5 Ma to 68.3 ka, crop out within the Jemez volcanic field and the surrounding areas in north central New Mexico.
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