Analytical and Numerical Evaluation of the Impact Limiters Design of a Research Reactors Spent Fuel Transportation Package Half Scale Model Under 9 M Drop Tests

Since 2001, under the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) support, some regional projects have been developed in Latin America to assess storage and transportion options for the research reactors spent fuel in the region. One of the projects tasks is the design and testing of a half scale model of a dual purpose (transportation and storage) package for research reactors spent fuel. Considering one of the hypothetical accident conditions, the 9 m drop test, this paper presents the impact limiters design evaluation of the above mentioned half scale model of the dual purpose package based on the impact limiters materials characterization, on the analytical assessment of the impact limiters sizing (dimensions and expected package acceleration levels) and on numerical simulations of the drop tests using a finite element explicit code. Conclusions and comments are addressed based on the obtained results.