Structural Integrity

1. INDIAN STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY SOCIETY
Workshop on Structural Integrity Assessment of
Nuclear Energy Assets
9th – 10th May 2018
AERB Auditorium, Niyamak Bhavan-B, Mumbai

2. INTEGRITY REQUIREMENTS OF
SHIELDING FLASK FOR
TRANSPORTATOION THROUGH
PUBLIC DOMAIN
Ravindra Pal,
Dy. CE(TD-RTS), NPCIL

3. Shielding flasks for radioactive materials:
 Inevitable components for NPP
 used to transport radioactive material between
Nuclear installations.
 designed to maintain its integrity.

4.  International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has provided the
national and international regulatory basis for Radio active
material (RAM) transport.
 Safety Standards Series No. TS-R-1 (ST-1, revised) published by
the IAEA provides the regulatory guideline for the safe
transport of radioactive material. The objective of the
regulations is to protect the public, transport workers,
property, and the environment from the effects of radiation
during transport.

5. The package integrity is related to the potential hazard & hence it is essentially
important for efficient transportation of radioactive material.
Safety measures are considered in to the design of the package and take account of
possible accident conditions during transport to ensure that radiation exposures are as
low as reasonably practicable (ALARP) by maintaining the structural integrity of package
during all conditions of transport.
Conditions of transport needs to be accounted ;
■normal conditions of transport (minor mishaps);
■accident conditions.
There are general design requirements which apply to all packages to ensure that they
can be handled safely and easily, secured properly and are able to withstand the
effects of any acceleration and vibration.

6. Factors to be considered in the design of packages:
(a) the nature of the materials to be transported
(b) the maximum activities
(c) ambient temperature conditions
(d) transport mode
(e) design life
(f) materials to be used, or any material restrictions
(g) where the packaging is to be used.
(h) any specific handling and/or operating requirements.
However mainly the radioactive material & activity decides the design of the package,
and specifies the requirements that the design must comply with.

7. Types of Packages for transportation are...
(a) Excepted package
(b) Industrial package Type 1 (Type IP-1)
(c) Industrial package Type 2 (Type IP-2)
(d) Industrial package Type 3 (Type IP-3)
(e) Type A package
(f) Type B(U) package
(g) Type B(M) package
(h) Type C package.
Packages containing fissile material or uranium hexafluoride are subject to additional
requirements.

8. Excepted packages
Excepted packages are packages in which the allowed radioactive content is restricted to such low
levels that the potential hazards are insignificant and therefore no testing is required with regard to
containment or shielding integrity.
A common example of an excepted package is the package used to carry radiopharmaceuticals for
medical purposes.

9. Industrial packages
Industrial packages are used to transport two types of material:
 material having low activity per unit mass.
 non-radioactive objects having low levels of surface contamination
e.g.: Fuel cycle machinery or parts of nuclear reactors, whose surfaces have been
contaminated by coolant or process water
inherently safe, either because the contained activity is very low, or because the material is not in
a form easily dispersible.
sub-divided into three categories :IP-1, IP-2 and IP-3,
differ regarding the degree to which they are required to withstand routine and normal
conditions of transport.
tests should simulate normal transport conditions such as a fall from a vehicle, exposure to rain,
or being struck by a sharp object, or having other cargo stacked on top.
e.g.: low-level and intermediate-level radioactive waste, or ores containing naturally occurring
radio-nuclides (like uranium or thorium) and concentrates of such ores.

10. Table 1: Industrial Package Requirements
Criteria IP-1 IP-2 IP-3
Design
requirements
■General
requirement
s for all
packages
■Additional pressure
and temperature
requirements if
transported by air
■General
requirements for all
packages
■Additional pressure and
temperature
requirements if
transported by air
■General requirements for all
packages
■Additional pressure and
temperature requirements
if transported by air
■Type A additional
requirements
Test
requirements
- normal
transport
conditions
■Free drop (from 0.3 to
1.2 metres,
depending on the
mass of the package)
■Stacking or compression
Each of the following tests
must be preceded by a
water spray test:
■free drop (from 0.3 to 1.2
metres, depending on the
mass of the package)
■stacking or compression
■penetration (6kg bar
dropped from 1 metre)

11. Type A packages
used for the transport of relatively small, but significant, quantities of radioactive material.
it is assumed that this type of package theoretically could be damaged in a severe accident and
that a portion of their contents may be released, the amount of radio-nuclides they can contain is
limited by the IAEA Regulations.
these limits ensure that the risks from external radiation or contamination are very low.
required to maintain their integrity during normal transport conditions.
e.g.: radioisotopes for medical diagnosis or Teletherapy, generators used to assist in the diagnosis
of certain cancers, and also for some nuclear fuel cycle materials.

12. Table 2: Type A Package Requirements
Criteria Requirements
Design requirements ■General requirements for all packages
■Additional pressure and temperature requirements if transported by
air
■Type A additional requirements (seals, tie-downs, temperature,
containment, reduced pressure, valves)
Test requirements -
normal transport
conditions
Each of the following tests must be preceded by a water spray test:
■free drop (from 0.3 – 1.2 metres, depending on the mass of the
package)
■stacking or compression
■penetration (6kg bar dropped from 1 metre)

13. Type B packages
Used for the transport of highly radioactive material.
must withstand the same normal transport conditions as Type A packages & accidental damage.
must be capable of withstanding expected accident conditions, without breach of its containment
or an increase in radiation to a level which would endanger the general public and those involved in
rescue or clean-up operations.
adequacy of the package to this requirement is demonstrated by stringent accident conditions
testing
e.g.: un-encapsulated radioisotopes for medical and research uses, spent nuclear fuel, and
vitrified high-level waste.

14. Regulatory Requirement (IAEA/AERB)
Performance tests for Normal Conditions:
Water Spray Test
Free Drop Test
Stacking Test
Penetration Test
Performance tests for Accident Conditions:
Type-B Packages:
Cumulative Effects of Following Tests
1. Mechanical Drop Tests:
Drop-I, 9m Drop on Unyielding Target
Drop-II, 1m Drop on Punch or
Drop-III, Crushing Package with
500Kg Steel Plate from 9m
2. Thermal Test
Engulfing fire of 8000C for 30 Minutes
Followed by Water Immersion Test-15m
Enhanced Immersion Test (200m) with large activity

15. Table 2: OVERALL Type B Package Requirements
Criteria Requirements
Design requirements ■General requirements for all packages
■Additional pressure and temperature requirements if transported by air
■Type A additional requirements
■Type B additional requirements (internal heat generation and maximum surface
temperature)
Test requirements -
normal transport
conditions
Each of the following tests must be preceded by a water spray test:
■free drop (from 0.3 to 1.2 metres, depending on the mass of the package)
■stacking or compression
■penetration 6kg bar dropped from 1 metre
Test requirements -
accidental transport
conditions
Cumulative effects of:
■free drop from 9 metres or dynamic crush test (drop of a 500kg mass from 9
metres onto a specimen)
■thermal test (fire of 800°C intensity for 30 minutes)
■immersion (15 metres for 8 hours)
Enhanced immersion test for packages carrying a large amount of radioactive
material:
■200 metres for 1 hour

16. Type C packages
The 1996 Edition of the IAEA Transport Regulations introduced a requirement for a more robustly
designed package – the Type C Package – to transport the more highly radioactive material by air.
Type C packages must satisfy all the additional requirements of Type A packages and most of the
additional requirements of Type B packages.
Type C packages are submitted to a series of tests to prove their ability to withstand transport
incidents and accidents (given in Table 4).

17. Table 2: Type C Package Requirements
Criteria Requirements
Design requirements ■General requirements for all packages
■Additional pressure and temperature requirements if transported by air
■Type A additional requirements
■Type B additional requirements (internal heat generation and maximum surface
temperature)
Test requirements -
normal transport conditions
Each of the following tests must be preceded by a water spray test:
■free drop (from 0.3 to 1.2 metres, depending on the mass of the package
■stacking or compression
■penetration 6kg bar dropped from 1 metre
Test requirements -
accidental transport
conditions
Test sequence on one specimen in the following order:
■free drop from 9 metres
■dynamic crush test (drop of a 500kg mass from 9 metres onto a specimen)
■puncture test
■enhanced thermal test (fire of 800°C intensity for 60 minutes)
A separate specimen may be used for the following test:
■impact test (not less than 90 metres per second)

18. Packages for fissile material
Nuclear fuel cycle materials containing enriched uranium or plutonium are fissile, i.e. they can
support a chain reaction. Such unwanted chain reactions are prevented during normal and
accidental transport conditions by the design of the package, the arrangement of the fissile material
in it and also the configuration of multiple packages.

19. Packages for uranium hexafluoride
The IAEA Regulations include requirements for packages containing uranium hexafluoride (Hex)
which are specific to this material.
These packages must meet the following test requirements:
withstand a pressure test of at least 1.4MPa;
withstand a free drop test – the drop height depending on the mass;
withstand a thermal test at a temperature of 800°C for 30 minutes.

20. Package type Test requirements Criteria to be fulfilled
All Normal operations
 handling, lifting, securing
Lifting and tie-down points shall not fail.
All Normal transport conditions
 accelerations, vibrations
No loose nuts/bolts on closure joints.
IP-2 IP-3,
Type A
Normal transport tests
 drop from 0.3 - 1.2 m
 stacking test
No loss/dispersal of contents; increase in surface radiation ≤20%. Sub-
critical .
IP-3,
Type A
Normal transport test
 penetration by bar (1 m)
No loss/dispersal of contents; increase in surface radiation ≤20%. Sub-
critical .
Type A, liquids &
gases
Penetration test (1.7 m), Drop
test from 9 m.
No loss/dispersal of contents; increase in surface radiation ≤20%.
Type A - liquids Spillage from primary containment Provide either (a) liquid absorbers able to absorb twice the volume of liquid, or
(b) a double containment system.
Type B Normal transport tests
 drop from 0.3 - 1.2 m
 stacking test
 penetration by bar (1 m)
Loss of contents ≤10-6 A2/hour .
Sub-critical .
Type B Accident transport tests
 drop from 9 m
 drop from 1 m on punch
 fire and water immersion
Loss of contents≤1 A2/week (≤10 A2/week
for 85Kr) .
Radiation ≤10 mSv/h at 1 m from surface. Sub-critical.
IP-3,
Type A, Type B
Low ambient temperature (-40oC) No damage from contraction of components, freezing of liquids (expansion),
changes in material strength (e.g. ductile to brittle).
IP-3,
Type A, Type B
High temperature
Component: 70oC ;
Ambient (Type B): 38oC, air transport
packages: 55oC
No damage from expansion or melting of components, vapour pressure of
liquids, decrease in material strength.
IP-3,
Type A, Type B
pressure reduction to 60 kPa No loss of contents.
Air transport
packages for liquids
Pressure reduction to 5 kPa No leakage.
Special forms Drop from 9 m
Percussion test
Bending test
Specimen shall not break or shatter.
Requirements for Structural integrity of Transport Package
A1 shall mean the activity value of radioactive material, special form radioactive material & A2 shall mean the activity value of radioactive
material, other than special form radioactive material which is listed in Table I or derived in Section IV of IAEA Safety standard no. TS-R-1

21. THE TIE-DOWNARRANGEMENT:
It is designed as per the guidelines specified in TS-G-1.1 (ST-2).
ACCELERATION FACTORS FOR PACKAGE RETENTION SYSTEM DESIGN

22. DROP ORIENTATIONS TO BE CONSIDERED

23. Fig.A1 Axial impact of a solid cylinder

24. Fig.A2 Side impact of a solid cylinder

25. Fig.A3 Edge impact of a solid cylinder

26. Fig.A4 Corner impact of a Cuboids'

27. Fig.A5 Edge impact of a Cuboids

28. Flow-sheet for package design and approval process

29. Numerical Simulation and actual testing of cask

33. ProSIM R and D Pvt Ltd
Website : www.pro-sim.com
Contact us: enquiry@pro-sim.com
Indian Structural Integrity Society (InSIS)
Website: www.instint.in
Contact us: insisblr@gmail.com