Nuclear waste management strategies, advancements and its impact on infrastructure
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3846/jcem.2026.26131Abstract
Nuclear waste management has become a critical issue due to growing concerns about the long-term safety and sustainability of radioactive waste disposal and its impact on infrastructure. Insufficient knowledge and regulations surrounding nuclear waste management are significant challenges to sustainable development. This review provides an in-depth categorisation of nuclear waste, with particular emphasis on high-level waste (HLW), which requires extensive pre-disposal treatments, and explores its impact on infrastructure and structures. Recent innovations, such as thermal treatment, partitioning and transmutation, are highlighted for their effectiveness in reducing HLW volume and radiotoxicity. The review also examines the detrimental effects of radiation on containment materials, especially concrete and steel. Notably, containment infrastructure is vulnerable to degradation, with studies showing a loss of up to 50% in compressive strength in concrete exposed to extreme neutron irradiation and reductions of up to 70% in Young’s modulus. Advanced materials, such as fibre-reinforced concrete and oxide-dispersion-strengthened steels, offer promising solutions by mitigating these effects and improving durability by 10–30%. Furthermore, the review identifies significant strides in international collaboration on nuclear waste management, which have led to advancements in minimising hazards and improving waste processing. These efforts are further supported by the integration of digital tools and material innovations, ensuring continued progress in managing nuclear waste safely and sustainably.
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high level waste, compressive strength, radioactive materials, radiation effects, concrete durabilityHow to Cite
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