We present a valuable experiment for ultrasonic quality assurance under realistic conditions for underground sealing structures made from shotcrete, where the locations of artificial reflectors are partly known. We apply advanced geophysical imaging methods to further enhance the quality of the obtained ultrasonic images.

The Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing is developing an electronic measurement system to be placed inside a concrete-filled waste drum to monitor the process of hardening and the evolution of the concrete over time to indirectly identify potential defects. The derived data will also serve as the basis for ongoing modeling approaches for digital twins. Overall, the sensors provide the means for enabling safe nuclear waste management through advanced monitoring.

The EURATOM project PREDIS targets the development and implementation of activities for pre-disposal treatment of radioactive waste streams other than nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. Focus is on the development of treatment and conditioning methodologies for wastes for which no mature solutions are currently available, including metallic materials, liquid organic waste and solid organic waste. Monitoring and digital twin technologies for cemented waste are investigated as well.