Special issue on deep geological repositories for disposal of high-level radioactive waste

Introduction:

Safe disposal of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) is a challenging rock engineering task for the sustainable development of nuclear energy and environmental protection. Deep geological repositories (DGRs) for disposal of HLW, a potentially feasible and safe option, are under various stages of development in many countries worldwide. This special issue will update readers on nuclear waste disposal programmes in different countries, sharing the experiences and lessons gained from these programmes, and communicating some key rock mechanics issues for the development of DGRs. Special attention will be paid to the short-term and long-term evolutions of rock mass behaviours that are subject to coupled thermal-hydraulic-mechanical-chemical processes and fluid flow and mass transport through complex fractured systems.

Topics covered:

Subject areas include, but are not limited to:

• Recent developments in DGR programmes
• Site selection strategy for DGRs
• Site characterisation for DGRs
• Construction technologies for DGRs
• Challenges faced by development of DGRs
• Coupled processes in host rocks
• Characterisation of fractured rocks
• Fluid flow and mass transport through fractured rocks

Important deadlines:

• Submissions close: 31 January 2023
• Decisions on acceptance: 30 April 2023

Submission instructions:

Please read the Guide for Authors before submitting. All articles should be submitted online; please select SI: Deep-Geo-Repository on submission. All submissions will undergo a normal peer-review process. If the manuscript is accepted, the article will be published open access with no fee payable by the author.

Guest Editors:

• Bo Li, Tongji University, China. Email: libotj@tongji.edu.cn
• Hideaki Yasuhara, Ehime University, Japan. Email: yasuhara.hideaki.me@ehime-u.ac.jp
• Ki-Bok Min, Seoul National University, South Korea. Email: kbmin@snu.ac.kr