TY - CONF A1 - Quercetti, Thomas T1 - A fire test stand for thermal testing of extra-large packages N2 - Packages for the transport of high-level radioactive materials are designed to withstand severe accidents. These packages must adhere to the specification-based criteria of the International Transport Regulations of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). To ensure compliance with these requirements, specific mechanical and thermal tests need to be addressed with respect to the package type. Typically, the Regulations prescribe mechanical tests followed by a thermal test as part of a cumulative test scenario. The thermal test is specified by the exposure of a test specimen for a period of 30 minutes to a thermal environment that provides a heat flux equivalent to that of a hydrocarbon fuel-air fire with an average fire temperature of at least 800 °C fully flame engulfing the test specimen. The Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) operates various test facilities for this purpose at their test site (TTS) near Berlin in Germany. Thermal tests for large packages are carried out in an established fire test stand that can be adapted by the test-setup to the geometric boundary conditions of a test specimen. This fire test stand is built for test specimens with masses up to 200,000 kg and geometric dimensions relating to large transport packages including their impact limiters. The test specimen is usually placed on a water-cooled support frame in the middle of the test-stand. The fire is realized by burning propane gas which is released in liquid state from an array of gas nozzles arranged in the form of a burner ring surrounding the test specimen. For particularly extra-large test specimens, two burner rings are used on top of each other and at different heights in order to firstly achieve full fire engulfment with a significantly larger volume of fire and secondly to achieve the required heat output. In advance of a regular thermal test BAM usually performs so-called fire reference tests to determine the test conditions for compliance with the IAEA requirements. These tests are performed using a generic package which corresponds to the external geometric dimensions of the test specimen used later in the approval test. Then, this reference package is exposed to a fire under defined test parameters whereas the corresponding heat input determined from the temperature changes measured is regarded as main criterion for proofing compliance with the IAEA criteria. The paper shows the experimental proof of the suitability of BAM’s fire test stand for thermal testing of extra-large packages. The heat input and fire temperatures fully meet the IAEA criteria but can also be set significantly higher for e.g. extra-regulatory testing. T2 - ASME PVP 2025 CY - Montreal, Quebec, Canada DA - 20.07.2025 KW - Package KW - Thermal testing KW - Test stand KW - Fire PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63893 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Wille, Frank T1 - Package safety evaluation in a rapidly changing world N2 - The presentation addressed the evolving challenges and developments in the safety evaluation of transport packages for radioactive materials, especially in light of changing technologies, regulations, and environmental conditions. A key focus was the current situation in Germany: following the final shutdown of commercial nuclear power plants in 2023, efforts are now concentrated on decommissioning, interim storage in dual-purpose casks (DPCs), and the ongoing site selection process for a repository for high-level waste. The expected duration of interim storage exceeds 100 years, demanding robust and sustainable safety strategies. One major topic was ageing management, which goes beyond technical measures to ensure transportability over long periods. It also includes preserving knowledge and expertise for future generations. The regulatory framework includes international standards such as IAEA SSR-6 and SSG-26, as well as national guidance like BAM-GGR 023. It was emphasized the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in safety evaluations. AI can enhance efficiency through automated document analysis and digital data structuring. However, final safety decisions remain the responsibility of human experts, especially given the complexity of documentation and the shortage of skilled personnel. The presentation also addressed changing transport technologies, such as the use of electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles. These vehicles behave differently in accidents, particularly in battery fires, which can reach temperatures above 1000 °C and last significantly longer than conventional fires. This raises the need to reassess existing fire test criteria. Environmental changes were another key point. With global temperatures rising by 0.26 °C per decade, local safety margin evaluations are becoming increasingly important. Existing regulatory assumptions, such as ambient temperatures of 38 °C, may no longer be sufficient. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is increasing. AI can support model generation, but there is concern about potential skill fading among engineers. Physical testing, such as BAM’s drop towers (up to 200 tons), remains essential for public package safety acceptance. Key takeaways from the talk include: Ageing Management is also about preserving skills and knowledge. Changing technologies and environmental conditions impact package safety. AI can improve efficiency but must be used carefully to avoid skill loss. Physical testing continues to play a vital role in gaining public trust. T2 - PATRAM 2025 CY - San Antonio, Texas, USA DA - 27.07.2025 KW - Artificial Intelligence KW - Package KW - Ageing Management KW - Electric Vehicles KW - Testing PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63879 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Wille, Frank T1 - Test facilities for transport and storage packages at BAM N2 - BAM acts as authority and for service in safety assessment of packages for transport and storage of radioactive materials. We offer extensive test capabilities and application of analytical methods for design verification and simulation for all types of packages for the transport and storage of radioactive materials according with the international IAEA Regulations for the safe transport and for national storage acceptance criteria. BAM operates several test facilities for drop and stacking testing, leak testing and thermal testing. The large drop test tower allows dropping full-scale specimens up to 200,000 kg in any drop orientation as requested. The comprehensive test facilities combined with long-term experience, newest equipment and measurement devices according to the latest state-of-the-art technology ensures realisation of complex test campaigns for package safety evaluation. Beyond that, non-destructive and destructive material test devices and experts are available. Equipment and application of all kinds of typical measurement categories can be offered for testing campaigns. In recent years we performed testing of full-scale type B package models with complex handling and preparation procedures. The results were contributed for different package design approval procedures. Type A packages mainly designed for medical related transport purposes, were continuously tested according to the transport regulations over recent years as well. Moreover, we work on research topics with relevance to package safety. The mechanical behaviour of lid closure systems under transport and storage conditions and the thermal behaviour of impact limiters were recently of special importance for the assessment competencies of BAM and were investigated under use of our test facilities. The paper describes the test facilities and capabilities for package design safety evaluation at BAM and shows examples from our recent work. T2 - PATRAM 2022, 20th International Symposium on the Packaging and Transportation of Radioactive Materials CY - Juan-les-Pins, France DA - 11.06.2023 KW - Transport KW - Drop testing KW - Fire test KW - IAEA KW - Package PY - 2023 AN - OPUS4-58088 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Schubert, Sven T1 - Introduction of the German Ageing Management Guide for Packages for Transport of Radioactive Materials – BAM-GGR 023 N2 - BAM-GGR 023 was published in June 2022 BAM-GGR 023 gives guidance to applicants regarding ageing management for competent authority approved package designs Ageing management with evaluation of ageing mechanisms according to para 613A of IAEA SSR-6 (Rev. 1) and their effects are part of the general management system. Essential items are: AMS (systemic-related), AMP (package design-related) and AMD (package-related) There are different requirements for organization and extent of ageing management depending on type of use There are also different requirements for ageing evaluation depending on type of use for packaging/package, classification of components and their accessibility and replaceability T2 - PATRAM22 CY - Juan-les-Pins, France DA - 11.06.2023 KW - Package KW - Ageing KW - Mechanism KW - Management KW - Guide PY - 2023 AN - OPUS4-57821 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Quercetti, Thomas T1 - Full-scale drop testing with a heavy-weight package for radioactive waste N2 - Packages for the transport of radioactive materials shall fulfil the requirements of the IAEA regulations for the safe transport. The requirements define mechanical and thermal test conditions including criteria ensuring the package design’s ability to withstand severe accidents and provide a high level of technical safety. Different methods can be used for safety demonstration showing compliance with the regulations. The central part of a safety demonstration which is presented in this paper was a comprehensive drop test program with a full-scale model of a transport package accompanied by pre- and post-test FE analyses. Using full-scale drop test models allow the benefit that similarity and scaling issues become a significant smaller issue, additional material investigations can be limited and analyses for transferring test results to the original package design are reduced. Additionally, experience for the future serial packaging manufacturing and handling procedures can be collected in a very early state of the design approval process. The pre-test finite element analyses derived and justified the drop test program consisting of several drop sequences with different drop orientations of the specimen. The performance and the results of the drop test sequences shows the manageability and the advantage e.g., in view of the direct availability of test results for the package licensing. On the other hand, the drop test performance shows the difficulties during handling and the need for additional equipment during preparation of the specimen. The package presented was intended for the transport and storage of compacted radioactive waste from reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel assemblies - designed and applied for approval by the AGC consortium. The project ended in 2021. The package design was characterized by a cask body made of a forged thick stainless-steel shell, a bolted double lid system with metallic gaskets and wood filled shock absorbers at both ends. The total mass of the entire transport package including content was 120,000 kg, the total length was about 7000 mm and the diameter approximately 3000 mm, both measures include the shock absorbers. The paper provides an insight into the performance of a full-scale drop testing campaign within the package safety evaluation and shows some selected test results. T2 - 20th International Symposium on the Packaging and Transportation of Radioactive Materials (PATRAM 22) CY - Juan-Les-Pins, France DA - 11.06.2023 KW - Full-scale KW - Drop testing KW - Package KW - Radioactive waste PY - 2023 AN - OPUS4-57731 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Neumann, Martin T1 - Maintenance and periodic inspections for packagings not requiring CA-approval N2 - In this presentation the main requirements of BAM-GGR 016 regarding maintenance and periodic inspections were explained. BAM ensures during acceptance of the quality management program that specific and relevant instructions for maintenance and periodic inspections are developed and handed to the operator of the packaging. Examples are given. T2 - FORO Iberoamericano CY - Madrid, Spain DA - 25.11.2019 KW - Maintenance KW - Periodic inspections KW - Radioactive material KW - Package PY - 2019 AN - OPUS4-50049 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Quercetti, Thomas T1 - Experimental testing of RAM packages within Japanese German projects N2 - The paper presents two cooperative projects focused on project management, testing performance and experimental results. T2 - 18th International Symposium on the Packaging and Transportation of Radioactive Materials PATRAM 2016 CY - Kobe, Japan DA - 18.09.2016 KW - Drop testing KW - Package PY - 2016 AN - OPUS4-37558 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Müller, Karsten T1 - Experimental Testing of Transport and Storage Containers N2 - The presentation gives an overview about mechanical and thermal testing of packages and containers for radioactive material in Germany. The test facilities of BAM and the main measurement methods are described followed by testing of containers (prototype, full-scale, reduced scale) as well as components and specimens. T2 - Workshop CNCAN – BAM on the exchange of testing and licensing work for transport packages CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 10.11.2015 KW - Drop test KW - Package KW - Thermal test KW - Impact KW - Leaktightness PY - 2015 AN - OPUS4-40932 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -