METHODOLOGY FOR EVALUATING THE RESPONSE OF SPENT FUEL SUBJECTED TO REGULATORY TRANSPORTATION ACCIDENTS

Spent fuel shipping casks in the US are designed to withstand a hypothetical event of a 9-meter drop upon an unyielding target under the regulatory requirements of Part 71 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10CFR71). The fuel response under this dynamic impact event constitutes a pivotal role in the source term assessment for spent fuel transport casks. The first step in evaluating the source term is the calculation of the fuel rod dynamic response. This paper illustrates an analysis methodology developed for determining the mechanical response of spent fuel in a transport cask subjected to impact loading. The analysis accounts for the structural interaction between the assemblies and basket, and between assembly hardware and fuel rods. The load transfer paths from the cask to the fuel assemblies depend strongly on the drop orientation. The three possible drop orientations are: (1) side drop; (2) end drop; and (3) corner drop (initial impact and slap down). Structural modeling and simulation of these drop orientations are described and example applications are presented.

• Corporate Authors:

  Sandia National Laboratories

  P.O. Box 5800
  Albuquerque, NM  United States  87185
• Authors:
  • BARRETT, P R
  • Foadian, H
  • James, R J
  • Rashid, Y R
  • Seager, K D
• Publication Date: 1991

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: 22 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Containers; Crashes; Dynamic loads; Dynamic tests; Impact loads; Load transfer; Methodology; Structural models; Transportation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Dynamic analysis; Dynamic response
• Old TRIS Terms: Impact loading
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Safety and Human Factors; Transportation (General); I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00619479
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: SAND-90-3110C, CONF-910817-1
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 29 1992 12:00AM