ITASCA Software services

Natural barriers, including geological formations — salt, argillite, sedimentary or crystalline settings — constitute the most important component of the complex multilayered system that isolates stored waste from the biosphere. Therefore, the design and performance assessment of waste repositories require a thorough knowledge and understanding of host rock behavior. Itasca has pioneered rock engineering research and development in underground nuclear waste isolation for decades worldwide for all rock types (hard rocks, salts, and clays) over geological time periods. For example, in crystalline media, the fracturing state of the rock mass (DFNs) is the main avenue of potential fluid circulation and transport of radionuclides.