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U.S. Department of Energy
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Can Canister Containment Be Maintained After Accidental Drop Events?

Conference ·
OSTI ID:911167

The National Spent Nuclear Fuel Program (NSNFP) has pursued a number of structural testing projects that are intended to provide data that can be used to substantiate the position that U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) spent nuclear fuel (SNF) canisters, made from austenitic stainless steels, can maintain containment after an accidental drop event and that plastic finite element methods can be used to accurately predict the structural response of canister configurations not specifically tested. In particular, drop tests of full-scale canisters and material impact testing at varying strain rates reflecting accidental drop conditions have been completed or are in progress. This paper provides insights to conclusions achieved to date and what efforts are planned to fully address the pertinent issues necessary to demonstrate the safety of DOE SNF canisters subjected to accidental drop events.

Research Organization:
Idaho National Laboratory (INL)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE - EM
DOE Contract Number:
AC07-99ID13727
OSTI ID:
911167
Report Number(s):
INL/CON-05-00680
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English