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Uncertainties in Container Failure Time Predictions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2011

R. E. Williford*
Affiliation:
Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352
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Abstract

Stochastic variations in the local chemical environment of a geologic waste repository can cause corresponding variations in container corrosion rates and failure times, and thus in radionuclide release rates. This paper addresses how well the future variations in repository chemistries must be known in order to predict container failure times that are bounded by a finite time period within the repository lifetime. Preliminary results indicate that a 5000 year scatter in predicted container failure times requires that repository chemistries be known to within ±10% over the repository lifetime. These are small uncertainties compared to current estimates.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1991

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References

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