Review Article

Long-term radionuclide retention in the near field: collaborative R&D studies within EURAD focusing on container optimisation, mobility, mechanisms and monitoring

¹ Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Nuclear Waste Disposal (INE), PO Box 3640, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany
² ANDRA, 1-7 rue Jean-Monnet, 92298 Châtenay-Malabry Cedex, France
³ Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI), Laboratory for Waste Management (LES), OFLA/203, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
⁴ NAGRA, Hardstrasse 73, PF 280, 5430 Wettingen, Switzerland

^* e-mail: marcus.altmaier@kit.edu

Received: 14 April 2022
Received in final form: 25 July 2022
Accepted: 8 August 2022
Published online: 28 October 2022

Abstract

Within EURAD, targeted collaborative research activities are performed to further deepen understanding regarding the long-term behaviour of key components in the repository near-field, assess specific radionuclide retention processes as well as developing methods for monitoring safety relevant parameters of repository systems. The ambition of the four EURAD Workpackages (WPs) – CONCORD, FUTURE, CORI, MODATS – presented here, is to investigate topics to meet implementation needs and contribute to Safety Cases in Europe at the highest level of scientific excellence. Work is fully integrated into the EURAD concept, emphasizing interactions between different WPs, involvement of End Users, assuring the link to national programmes and contributing to overarching features like Knowledge Management, Training and Education, or European Integration. Comprehensive initial State-of-the-Art reports were prepared by the WPs or currently under development and are available at the EURAD website. The technical/scientific work performed in the four WPs - CONCORD, FUTURE, CORI, MODATS – is discussed in this contribution.