MATERIAL PROPERTY DETERMINATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE SPE ROCK VALLEY DIRECT COMPARISON EXPERIMENT

Understanding of prompt signals and physical signatures that develop from underground chemical explosions improves nonproliferation verification and monitoring capabilities. A primary factor controlling explosion induced signals and signatures is characterization of the material properties of the rocks in which the chemical explosion takes place. We report on material property determinations of USGS Test Well F core and outcrop analogs for the subsurface stratigraphy in the Rock Valley area of Nevada. The objective of this work is to establish a baseline set of lithologic descriptions and material properties expected prior to borehole drilling in support of the SPE RVDC (Rock Valley Direct Comparison) experiment. This data also informs source simulations and the near-field Geologic Framework Model. We determine for each rock type the compressional failure envelope, elastic properties as a function of stress (bulk modulus versus mean stress, shear modulus versus shear stress, Young’s modulus versus axial stress and Poisson’s ratio versus axial stress), indirect tensile strength, density, and porosity. Geologic characterization, both at the core-scale and microscale, provides context for using the data in modeling and simulation efforts and to inform interpretations for the material properties testing. This work was done by Sandia National Labs, which is managed and operated by NTESS, and Mission Support and Test Services, LLC, under Contract No. DE-NA0003624 with the U.S. Department of Energy, for the Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Research and Development. SAND2023-06934A.