TY - CONF A1 - Weber, Mike A1 - Zencker, Uwe A1 - Wolff, Dietmar A1 - Jaunich, Matthias A1 - Kömmling, Anja A1 - Völzke, Holger A1 - Schulze, Dietmar T1 - Numerical simulation of the behaviour of elastomer seals under consideration of time dependent effects N2 - Due to delays in the site-selection procedure to establish a deep geological repository for spent nuclear fuel and high level waste and in construction of the already licensed Konrad-repository for low and intermediate level waste without heat generation, extended periods of interim storage become more relevant in Germany. BAM is involved in most of the cask licensing procedures and especially responsible for the evaluation of cask-related long-term safety issues. The long-term performance of elastomer seals for lid Systems of transport and storage casks whether used as auxiliary seals in spent fuel caslcs or as primary seals for low and intermediate level waste packages is an important issue in this context (Jaunich, 2013; Jaunich, 2014; Kömmling, 2015). The polymeric structure of these seals causes a complex mechanical behaviour with time-dependent elasticity reduction and loss of elastic recovery. The paper presents first results of a comprehensive test Programme consisting of several static and dynamic mechanical short- and long-term tests which have been carried out at BAM on specimens made of representative types of elastomers, fluorocarbon rubber (FKM) and ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM). The investigation of the test results used to identify material models and their Parameters as well as the development of two finite element models for the numerical Simulation of tension and compression tests using the finite element code ABAQUS® are described. The calculation results are presented in comparison to the test results. The influence of important material and test parameters was investigated and discussed in sensitivity analyses. T2 - RAMTRANSPORT 2015 - International conference on the radioactive materials transport and storage CY - Oxford, UK DA - 19.05.2015 KW - Numerical analysis KW - Extended interim storage KW - Elastomer seals PY - 2015 SP - Session 4, Paper 28, 1 EP - 9 AN - OPUS4-33832 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Weber, Mike A1 - Kömmling, Anja A1 - Jaunich, Matthias A1 - Wolff, Dietmar A1 - Zencker, Uwe A1 - Völzke, Holger A1 - Schulze, Dietmar A1 - Probst, Ulrich T1 - Testing and Numerical Simulation of Elastomers - From Specimen Tests to Simulation of Seal Behavior under Assembly Conditions N2 - Due to delays in the siting procedure to establish a deep geological repository for spent nuclear fuel and high level radioactive waste as well as in construction of the already licensed Konrad repository for low and intermediate level radioactive waste, extended periods of interim storage become more relevant in Germany. BAM is involved in most of the cask licensing procedures and especially responsible for the evaluation of cask-related long-term safety issues. The long-term performance of elastomer seals for lid systems of transport and storage casks, whether used as auxiliary seals in spent fuel casks or as primary seals for low and intermediate level waste packages, is an important issue in this context. The polymeric structure of these seals causes a complex mechanical behavior with time-dependent sealing force reduction. The results of a comprehensive purpose-designed test program consisting of basic compression and tension tests as well as relaxation tests on unaged specimens of representative types of elastomers (fluorocarbon rubber (FKM) and ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM)) at different temperatures and strain rates are presented. They were used to identify the constitutive behavior and to obtain parameters for finite element material models provided by the computer code ABAQUS®. After estimating the influence of uncertainties such as Poisson’s ratio and friction coefficient by sensitivity analyses, the chosen parameters had to prove their suitability for the finite element simulation of the specimen tests themselves. Based on this preliminary work the simulation of a specific laboratory test configuration containing a typical elastomer seal with circular cross section is presented. The chosen finite element material model and the implemented parameters had to show that they are able to represent not only the specimen behavior under predominantly uniaxial load but also the more complex stress states in real components. Deviations between the measured and calculated results are pointed out and discussed. For the consideration of long-term effects in the simulation of elastomer behavior, test results of aged specimens are needed. First information about a new test program, started recently and planned to provide these data, are given. T2 - ASME 2017 Pressure Vessels & Piping Conference (PVP2017) CY - Waikoloa, Hawaii, USA DA - 16.07.2017 KW - Time dependent effects KW - Low temperature behavior KW - Elastomeric seals KW - Aging KW - Simulation KW - Testing PY - 2017 SN - 978-0-7918-5802-8 VL - 7 SP - Article UNSP V007T07A035, 1 EP - 8 AN - OPUS4-41841 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Weber, Mike A1 - Kömmling, Anja A1 - Jaunich, Matthias A1 - Wolff, Dietmar A1 - Zencker, Uwe A1 - Völzke, Holger A1 - Schulze, Dietmar T1 - Testing and numerical simulation of elastomeric seals under consideration of time dependent effects N2 - Due to delays in the siting procedure to establish a deep geological repository for spent nuclear fuel and high level waste and in construction of the already licensed Konrad repository for low and intermediate level waste, extended periods of interim storage will become more relevant in Germany. BAM is involved in most of the cask licensing procedures and is responsible for the evaluation of cask-related long-term safety issues. Elastomeric seals are widely used as barrier seals for containers for low and intermediate level radioactive waste. In addition they are also used as auxiliary seals in spent fuel storage and transportation casks (dual purpose casks (DPC)). To address the complex requirements resulting from the described applications, BAM has initiated several test programs for investigating the behavior of elastomeric seals. These include experiments concerning the hyperelastic and viscoelastic behavior at different temperatures and strain rates, the low temperature performance down to -40°C, the influence of gamma irradiation and the aging behavior. The first part of the paper gives an overview of these tests, their relevant results and their possible impact on BAM’s work as a consultant in the framework of approval and licensing procedures. The second part presents an approach of the development of a finite element model using the finite element code ABAQUS®. The long-term goal is to simulate the complex elastomeric behavior in a complete lid closure system under specific operation and accident conditions. T2 - ASME 2016 Pressure Vessels & Piping Conference (PVP2016) CY - Vancouver, BC, Canada DA - 17.07.2016 KW - Elastomeric seals KW - Testing KW - Low temperature behavior KW - Aging KW - Simulation KW - Time dependent effects PY - 2016 SN - 978-0-7918-5045-9 VL - 7 SP - Paper 63192, 1 EP - 10 AN - OPUS4-37046 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Wolff, Dietmar T1 - Zentrale Koordinierungsstelle für Informationen zur Behälterabfertigung (KOBAF) - Erfahrungen und Perspektiven T2 - 7. Symposium Lagerung und Transport radioaktiver Stoffe CY - Hannover DA - 2015-11-25 PY - 2015 AN - OPUS4-34857 LA - deu AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Erhard, Anton A1 - Völzke, Holger A1 - Droste, Bernhard A1 - Wolff, Dietmar A1 - Wille, Frank T1 - Nuclear power plant waste management strategy in Germany N2 - The shut-down of eight nuclear power plants and the phase out of the nuclear energy genera� tion in Germany, due to a decision of the German government after the Fukushima accident, has rapidly forced the need for transportation and storage of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) from shut-down reactors in this country. In accordance with the present strategy in Germany, which is characterized by searching for appropriate final repository areas, only the dry interim stor� age facilities are available for storage nuclear waste of the decommissioned plants as well as the operating plants. Therefore, the transportation and the storage casks must be available for both types of light water reactors. But for the time being this is the bottleneck. Unfortunately the prognoses are neglecting the fact, that such a high number of casks are needed in a very short space of time. This requires the acceleration of formal activeness in relation to the li� censes but also an increase of the production. In the meanwhile to get this process started, the only possibility is the storage in the pools at the plant site. Anyway, for the time being, this is one of the problems for dismantling the eight plants which have been shut down due to the decision of the Government, which is now fixed in the last amended German Atomic Energy Act dated 24th of February 2012. Starting to dismantle in the radioactive regions of the plants requires empty pools. For emptying the pools of damaged SNF special procedures regarding the transportation and storage are necessary. The transportation of damaged SNF requires special casks or at least special procedures and therefore also a special licenses. This paper describes the challenge for the management in transportation and storage of SNF in Germany after the shut-down of the nuclear power plants by reason of the Fukushima acci� dent. T2 - PATRAM 2013 - 17th International symposium on the packaging and transportation of radioactive materials CY - San Francisco, CA, USA DA - 18.08.2013 PY - 2013 SP - 1 EP - 11 PB - Omnipress AN - OPUS4-30135 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Völzke, Holger A1 - Wolff, Dietmar A1 - Probst, Ulrich A1 - Nagelschmidt, Sven A1 - Schulz, Sebastian T1 - Long-term performance of metal seals for transport and storage casks N2 - Dual purpose casks for the transportation and storage of spent nuclear fuel and other radioactive materials require very high leak-tightness of lid closure Systems under accident conditions as well as in the long-term to prevent activity release. For that purpose metal seals of specific types with an inner helical spring and outer metal liners are widely used and have shown their excellent performance if certain quality assurance requirements for fabrication and assembling are satisfied. Well defined surface roughness, clean and dry inert conditions are therefore essential. No seal failure in a loaded cask happened under these conditions until today. Nevertheless, the considered and licensed Operation period is limited and all safety assessments have been performed and approved for this period of time which is 40 years in Germany so far. But in the meantime longer storage periods might be necessary for the future and therefore additional material data will be required. BAM is involved in the qualification and evaluation procedures of those seals from the early beginning. Because long-term tests are always time consuming BAM has early decided to perform additional tests with specific test seal configurations to gain a better understanding of the long-term behavior with regard to seal pressure force, leakage rate and useable resilience which is safety relevant mainly in case of accidental mechanical loads inside a storage facility or during a subsequent transport. Main test parameters are the material of the outer seal jacket (silver or aluminum) and the temperature. This paper presents the BAM test program including an innovative test mock-up and most recent test results. Based on these data extrapolation models to extended time periods are discussed, and also future plans to continue tests and to investigate seal behavior for additional test parameters are explained. T2 - PATRAM 2013 - 17th International symposium on the packaging and transportation of radioactive materials CY - San Francisco, CA, USA DA - 18.08.2013 PY - 2013 SP - 1 EP - 13 PB - Omnipress AN - OPUS4-30136 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Kumano, Y. A1 - Droste, Bernhard A1 - Hirose, M. A1 - Harvey, J. A1 - Reiche, I.. A1 - Wolff, Dietmar A1 - McConnell, P. A1 - Varley, K. T1 - Overview of the IAEA's joint working group on integrated safety case for dual purpose casks N2 - Spent nuclear fuel is generated from the operation of nuclear reactors and needs to be safely managed following its removal from reactor cores. Spent nuclear fuels are usually stored in a reactor pool for a short period of time after defueling, and then they are shipped to its next destination for reprocessing, disposal, or further storage. In some countries, a concept of Dual Purpose Cask (DPC) is considered as an attractive option for further storage. This is because of that the concept increases flexibility for storage capacity, as well as its economic efficiency that can reduce the complexity of handling highly radioactive spent fuels. The management of spent fuel using a DPC involves storage of spent fuel as well as on-site and off-site transportation before and after storage. Most countries require package design approval for the DPC to be transported. In addition, it is required in many countries to have a license for storage of the spent fuel in the DPC or a license for a storage facility that contains DPCs. Therefore, demonstration of compliance of the DPC with national and international transport regulations as well as with the storage requirements is necessary. In June 2010, the IAEA organized “International Conference on Management of Spent Fuel from Nuclear Power Reactors”. In this conference, many countries expressed their interest on harmonizing both transport and storage safety cases for DPCs that has a possibility to establish an effective and integrated regulatory framework in a holistic manner. Taking into account the increasing needs among Member States, the IAEA set up a new working group following the conference to discuss how to develop an integrated safety case for both transportation and storage.This activity is planned to be completed in 2013. Currently, a technical report is being prepared as an outcome of this activity. In this paper, the IAEA’s approach to demonstrate the safety of DPCs in a holistic manner is described first, followed by the overview of the draft document. It also presents the difference between the conventional transport cask concept and the DPC concept. T2 - PATRAM 2013 - 17th International symposium on the packaging and transportation of radioactive materials CY - San Francisco, CA, USA DA - 18.08.2013 PY - 2013 SP - 1 EP - 9 PB - Omnipress AN - OPUS4-30140 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Wille, Frank A1 - Wolff, Dietmar A1 - Droste, Bernhard A1 - Völzke, Holger A1 - Baden, M. T1 - German approach and experience feedback of transport ability of SNF packages after interim storage N2 - In Germany the concept of dry interim storage of spent fuel in dual purpose metal casks is implemented, currently for periods of up to 40 years. The casks being used have an approved package design in accordance with the international transport regulations. The license for dry storage is granted on the German Atomic Energy Act with respect to the recently revised “Guidelines for dry interim storage of irradiated fuel assemblies and heat-generating radioactive waste in casks” by the German Waste management Commission (ESK). For transport on public routes between or after long term interim storage periods, it has to be ensured that the transport and storage casks fulfil the specifications of the transport approval or other sufficient properties which satisfy the proofs for the compliance of the safety objectives at that time. In recent years the validation period of transport approval certificates for manufactured, loaded and stored packages were discussed among authorities and applicants. A case dependant system of 3, 5 and 10 years was established. There are consequences for the safety cases in the Package Design Safety Report including evaluation of long term behavior of components and specific operating procedures of the package. Present research and knowledge concerning the long term behavior of transport and storage cask components have to be consulted as well as experiences from interim cask storage operations. Challenges in the safety assessment are e.g. the behavior of aged metal and elastomeric gaskets under IAEA test conditions to ensure that the results of drop tests can be transferred to the compliance of the safety objectives at the time of transport after the interim storage period. T2 - PATRAM 2013 - 17th International symposium on the packaging and transportation of radioactive materials CY - San Francisco, CA, USA DA - 18.08.2013 KW - Storage KW - Transport KW - Lagerung KW - Verpackung KW - Radioactive material PY - 2013 SP - 1 EP - 9 PB - Omnipress AN - OPUS4-30159 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Wolff, Dietmar T1 - Safety Aspects of Dry Spent Fuel Storage and Spent Fuel Management T2 - ENC 2014 European Nuclear Conference CY - Marseille, France DA - 2014-05-11 PY - 2014 AN - OPUS4-31028 LA - deu AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Wolff, Dietmar T1 - Transport- und Lagerbehälter für trockene Zwischenlagerung bestrahlter Brennelemente und Wärme entwickelnder radioaktiver Abfälle - Teil 1 T2 - KKW Brunsbüttel - Veranstaltungsreihe zum Erhalt der Fachkunde des Personals CY - Brunsbüttel DA - 2015-10-27 PY - 2015 AN - OPUS4-35155 LA - deu AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -