Finite-Element Thermohydrogeological Modeling for Canadian Nucelar Fuel Waste Management

Abstract

A three-dimensional finite-element code, MOTIF, has been developed to simulate the coupled processes of groundwater flow, heat transfer and solute transport. This MOTIF code is applied to simulate the migration of inert contaminants from a hypothetical nuclear fuel waste vault through the geosphere to the biosphere. The conceptual model used in this simulation is consistent with surface and subsurface geological, geophysical and hydrogeological data from the granite batholith and surrounding country rock that comprise the Whiteshell Research Area in eastern Manitoba, Canada.