The purpose of this facility, which is located at Busted Butte on the Nevada Test Site, is to enable detailed research on unsaturated-zone groundwater flow in specific tuff horizons.  The facility forms a part of the Yucca Mountain Project.

SubTerra Engineering Ltd was appointed to review site investigation information and carry out detailed designs for underground research caverns and access tunnels in weak tuffs and pyroclastic flow deposits.
 
The first phase of excavation involved excavation of the portal, access tunnels and test chambers, with spans up to 7m.  In the next phase, which will follow initial research activities, areas separating the existing test rooms will be excavated to form a single cavern with a span of about 20m.

Design was followed immediately by construction of the first phase, during which SubTerra Engineering provided technical support.  This involved analysis of geotechnical mapping data from the excavations, collected by SubTerra Inc personnel, and on-going design review.   This work was carried out remotely, using e-mail links between our UK design office and the site in Nevada, making use of the time difference between each location. 

Data collected on site during the day-shift was analysed overnight in the UK.  The results and support recommendations were returned to site ready for the start of the next excavation cycle.

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