Abstract:The top cover is the important protection barrier for low-intermediate radioactive waste disposal repository near ground surface,and it will exert the important function for the long-term security of the disposal repository. Taking a proposed radioactive waste shallow-buried disposal repository as an example,combining with the local natural features and geological conditions,the issues of functionality and practicality of the top cover are discussed by the methods of geological analog and test. Based on analyzing the top cover of surface vegetation layer and aquifuge lithology characteristics,the experimental studies of anti-natural stresses corrosion and rock mechanical properties,water physical properties,and its permeability,etc. are carried out. The test results show that the natural sandy gravel can be used as the top cover surface vegetation layer;and the clay gravel can be used as the aquifuge layer,which can make the top cover structure simple,increase volumetric storage and reduce engineering cost. It can also significantly improve the strength,stability and the protection performance.