POSTMORTEM METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF A FIRE-EXPOSED SPENT FUEL SHIPPING CASK

A postmortem examination of a large fire-exposed rail-transported spent fuel shipping container has revealed the presence of two macrofissures in the outer cask shell. The first, a part-thru crack located within the seam weld fusion zone of the outer cask shell, was typical of hot cracks that may be found in stainless steel weldments. The second, located within the stainless steel base metal, apparently originated at microcracks formed during the welding of a copper-stainless steel dissimilar metal joint. The latter microcrack then propagated during the fire-test, ultimately penetrating the outer shell of the cask.

• Corporate Authors:

  Sandia Laboratories

  P.O. Box 5800
  Albuquerque, NM  United States  87115

  Department of Energy

  1000 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20585
• Authors:
  • Rack, H J
  • YOSHIMURA, H R
• Publication Date: 1980-4

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 35 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Casks; Containers; Cracking; Crash tests; Failure; Failure analysis; Fires; Hazardous materials; Radioactive materials; Radioactive materials; Railroad cars; Railroad transportation; Stainless steel
• Uncontrolled Terms: Crack propagation
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Research;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00318812
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Contract Numbers: EY-76-C-04-0789
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 27 1980 12:00AM