This review work concerns the evaluation of the likelihood and extent of fracture growth around the deposition tunnels and holes of the planned KBS-3 repository at Forsmark.
The issues of the isostatic, shear and thermal loading concerning the stability and evolution of rock fractures around the KBS-3 repository at Forsmark are addressed. Hereby, the thermal, glacial and earthquake scenarios are considered. The likelihood and extent of fracture growth is analysed considering the implications for the size of the fractures intercepting the deposition holes, the integrity of the repository barriers and the changes of hydro-mechanical properties of the rock.