ABSTRACT: Digital signal processing, a technique commonly used in the fields of electrical engineering and communication technology, has been successfully used to analyze creep closure data obtained from a 0.91 m diameter by 5.13 m deep borehole in bedded salt. By filtering the “noise” component of the closure data from a test borehole, important data trends were made more evident and average creep closure rates were able to be calculated. This process provided accurate estimates of closure rates that will be used in the design of lined boreholes in which heat-generating transuranic nuclear wastes will be emplaced at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant.

Authors: S. Chakrabarti (International Technology Corporation) | N. Duplancic (International Technology Corporation) | W.C. Patrick (International Technology Corporation)