You need JavaScript to view this

Extended drop tests of DCI casks with artificial flaws demonstrating the existing safety margins

Abstract

The use of spent fuel shipping and storage casks made of ductile cast iron (DCI) has been common practice for about 15 years when the development of such casks started in Germany where qualified foundries are able to produce these heavy section castings at the high quality level needed for this kind of application. To promote the discussion on safety against brittle failure a lot of research had been carried out in different countries. The two test programmes in Germany on casks with big artificial flaws under severe impact conditions is summarised in this paper. The first test object was a thick walled DCI ``pipe`` (150 mm wall thickness) with dimensions equivalent to a 1:2.5 scale cask model. It was dropped with a 40 mm deep laser sharpended flaw from heights of up to 9 m onto rails. As a second test object a full scale CASTOR VHLW cask was used. This specimen had a flaw with a depth of 120 mm in a 260 mm thick wall. With increasing drop heights (up to 14 m) and stress intensity factors (up to material fracture toughness) this object was also dropped onto rails. For both cases the measured data (decelerations, crack  More>>
Authors:
Droste, B; Gogolin, B; Voelzke, H; Quercetti, T; Guenther, B [1] 
  1. Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung, Berlin (Germany)
Publication Date:
Sep 01, 1995
Product Type:
Journal Article
Report Number:
CONF-9410134-
Reference Number:
SCA: 420204; 050900; PA: AIX-26:063432; EDB-95:131246; SN: 95001458053
Resource Relation:
Journal Name: International Journal of Radioactive Materials Transport; Journal Volume: 6; Journal Issue: 2-3; Conference: Brittle fracture safety assessment, Krefeld (Germany), 27-28 Oct 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1995
Subject:
42 ENGINEERING NOT INCLUDED IN OTHER CATEGORIES; 05 NUCLEAR FUELS; SPENT FUEL CASKS; IMPACT TESTS; CAST IRON; FRACTURE PROPERTIES; SCALE MODELS; SPENT FUEL STORAGE; TRANSPORT
OSTI ID:
100512
Country of Origin:
United Kingdom
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Journal ID: IJRTER; ISSN 0957-476X; TRN: GB9501350063432
Submitting Site:
GBN
Size:
pp. 177-182
Announcement Date:
Oct 04, 1995

Citation Formats

Droste, B, Gogolin, B, Voelzke, H, Quercetti, T, and Guenther, B. Extended drop tests of DCI casks with artificial flaws demonstrating the existing safety margins. United Kingdom: N. p., 1995. Web.
Droste, B, Gogolin, B, Voelzke, H, Quercetti, T, & Guenther, B. Extended drop tests of DCI casks with artificial flaws demonstrating the existing safety margins. United Kingdom.
Droste, B, Gogolin, B, Voelzke, H, Quercetti, T, and Guenther, B. 1995. "Extended drop tests of DCI casks with artificial flaws demonstrating the existing safety margins." United Kingdom.
@misc{etde_100512,
title = {Extended drop tests of DCI casks with artificial flaws demonstrating the existing safety margins}
author = {Droste, B, Gogolin, B, Voelzke, H, Quercetti, T, and Guenther, B}
abstractNote = {The use of spent fuel shipping and storage casks made of ductile cast iron (DCI) has been common practice for about 15 years when the development of such casks started in Germany where qualified foundries are able to produce these heavy section castings at the high quality level needed for this kind of application. To promote the discussion on safety against brittle failure a lot of research had been carried out in different countries. The two test programmes in Germany on casks with big artificial flaws under severe impact conditions is summarised in this paper. The first test object was a thick walled DCI ``pipe`` (150 mm wall thickness) with dimensions equivalent to a 1:2.5 scale cask model. It was dropped with a 40 mm deep laser sharpended flaw from heights of up to 9 m onto rails. As a second test object a full scale CASTOR VHLW cask was used. This specimen had a flaw with a depth of 120 mm in a 260 mm thick wall. With increasing drop heights (up to 14 m) and stress intensity factors (up to material fracture toughness) this object was also dropped onto rails. For both cases the measured data (decelerations, crack opening displacement, strains, material properties) are presented. No brittle failure occurred, although in the 14 m drop of the CASTOR VHLW Cask the impact was 6.5 times higher than the impact measured in the mechanical test of the type B package design. The results demonstrate that DCI casks have significantly high safety margins even in the hypothetical case of an impact beyond type B package design requirements. (author).}
journal = []
issue = {2-3}
volume = {6}
journal type = {AC}
place = {United Kingdom}
year = {1995}
month = {Sep}
}