The Design of Transport Containers for Radioactive Waste Materials

Abstract

This paper describes the design process related to the development of a family of transport containers for intermediate level radioactive waste materials. These steel containers, each large enough to carry four 500 litre drums full of immobilised waste, all have similar internal cavities, but have wall thicknesses chosen for the activity levels of the waste streams to be transported. Four different wall thicknesses have been chosen, ranging from 70mm at the lightest end of the spectrum to 285mm at the heaviest end.

Three principal steps are described in the paper. First, a series of simple calculations is used to identify concepts which have the potential to satisfy the design aims. Following this, a concept appraisal identifies the preferred scheme and more elaborate computer-aided calculations are used to confirm its adequacy and develop the details of the design. Finally, some scale model prototypes are manufactured and tested to prove their performance under extreme load conditions and to validate the predictive modelling.

The paper outlines some of the methods which have been used for the development of components such as shock-absorbers and fasteners and shows how relatively simple calculations can be used to obtain preliminary sizings. Some attention is also paid to more advanced analytical methods (such as impact prediction using finite element techniques) and examples are also given of the use of computers to produce 3-D visualisation of the concepts in the early stages of a project.