Comparison of two simulators to investigate thermal–hydraulic–mechanical processes related to nuclear waste isolation in saliferous formations

We investigate the capabilities of two simulators, TOUGH-FLAC and FLAC-TOUGH, to predict the long-term thermal–hydraulic–mechanical response of a generic salt repository for heat-generating nuclear waste. These simulators are based on sequential coupling and include state-of-the-art knowledge for saliferous materials. Their main difference is the sequential method used. We present a benchmark between LBNL and TUClausthal. The scenario studied assumes heat and gas generation from the waste packages, and crushed salt backfill. The comparison of results is very satisfactory, providing increased reliability and confidence in the capabilities of the simulators to evaluate the geological and engineered barriers in the long-term.