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Heizöllagerbehälter aus Kunststoffen (z.B. Polyethylen) sind für einen sicheren Betrieb von 30 Jahren, dem Zeitraum der Produkthaftung, ausgelegt. Die Tankhersteller empfehlen zur Gewährleistung der Sicherheit nach Ablauf von 30 Jahren den Ersatz dieser Behälter. Kunststoffe unterliegen im Laufe ihrer Nutzungsdauer der Alterung durch die Veränderung ihrer Eigenschaften. Das Ausmaß der Alterung und die Art des Abbauvorganges hängen im Wesentlichen vom chemischen Abbau des Kunststoffes, der Wanddicke des Behälters und den Umgebungsbedingungen ab. Aufgrund der Komplexität der Alterungsvorgänge sind Aussagen zum Langzeitverhalten bzw. zur Lebensdauer der Heizöllagerbehälter ohne geeignete Langzeitprüfungen problematisch. Bisher liegen keine Untersuchungen zum Langzeitverhalten der Kunststoffe vor, insbesondere nach einer Nutzungsdauer über 20 Jahre. In der BDH-Broschüre: Effiziente Systeme und erneuerbare Energien wird darauf hingewiesen, dass ca. 45 % der Heizöllagerbehälter aus Kunststoffen in Deutschland 26 Jahre und älter sind. Viele dieser Tankanlagen sind zudem noch nie von einem Sachverständigen überprüft worden. Schätzungen gehen davon aus, dass mehr als 10.000.000 Tankanlagen aus Kunststoffen in Deutschland vor 1987 errichtet wurden.
Ziel der Untersuchungen ist, den Schädigungsgrad der Kunststoffe im Vergleich zu den unbelasteten Werkstoffen zu ermitteln. Da die BAM bis Ende der 80-iger Jahre für die Zulassung dieser Behälter zuständig war, sind die Daten über den eingesetzten Werkstoff für den Vergleich noch vorhanden. Der Bundesverband Lagerbehälter e.V. und das Institut für Wärme und Oeltechnik (IWO) befürworten diese Untersuchungen, um eine Überalterung der Tankanlagen zu vermeiden. Diese Überalterung könnte die zukünftige Gefahr für die Heizöltankanlage sein, nicht der Wettbewerb mit anderen Energieformen.
Parameter study for CFD in the bottle – grid resolution plays an important role on the temperature at the specific positions, 2D axi-symetrical calculation is a sufficient solution strategy in regards to the examined particular Problem. The intensity of filling process can be controlled by pressure “User defined function” provided by experiments. Numerical simulation demonstrated feasibility to predict temperature progress during the filling process successfully validated by experiments. The turbulent model k-w SST is the best strategy for the turbulent property calculations. The most intensive turbulent kinetic energy appeared in the middle region of the pressure bottle, the impact of the eddy viscosity on the wall was mostly in the wall region.
Biofuels including ethanol and biodiesel (FAME) represent a renewable fuel alternative to petroleum-derived transport fuels. The aim of this work was to study the interaction between high density polyethylene (HDPE) with permeation barriers in form of polyamide (PA) and fluorination, and biofuels such as E85 (fuel with 85 % ethanol), biodiesel and B10 (heating oil with 10 % biodiesel). 10 l jerrycans made of polyethylene with permeation barrier of PA were filled with E85 and biodiesel and exposed to temperatures of 20 °C and 40 °C for 5 years. Half of the 20 l jerrycans of HDPE for filling with B10 were fluorinated at the inner layer to prevent permeation before the exposure. Tensile properties were determined once a year, and FTIR-spectroscopy was used to evaluate possible changes.
The tensile properties tensile strength and breaking elongation of HDPE jerrycan cuttings with permeation barrier decreased, but not significantly, after immersion in E85, biodiesel and B10. The elasticity modulus of the polyethylene grades was especially reduced during exposure to E85.
The FTIR spectra of HDPE jerrycan cuttings with permeation barrier showed that immersion tests for five years with the test fuels at 20 °C and 40 °C did not lead to a decomposition of the permeation barriers.
Packages for the transport of radioactive material are often equipped with impact limiters consisting of wood. Mostly this wood is encapsulated by steel sheets. The impact limiters are needed to ensure that the transport casks meet the IAEA safety requirements. According to the IAEA safety requirements a package has to withstand consecutively severe mechanical tests followed by a thermal test. The mechanical tests have to produce maximum damage concerning the thermal test. Following this, the impact limiters may have serious pre-damage when the thermal tests begins. The IAEA safety requirements state that during and following the fire test, the specimen shall not be artificially cooled and any combustion of materials of the package shall be permitted to proceed naturally.
Small scale fire tests with wood filled metal drums by BAM and works of the French Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) showed that pre-damaged steel encapsulated wooden structures could start smoldering initiated by the thermal test. These processes supply additional energy to the cask which should be considered within the safety assessment of the package.
As not much is known about smoldering processes in encapsulated wooden structures with a reduced oxygen supply the need for a test was identified. To investigate the influence of a smoldering impact limiter concerning the amount of energy supplied to the cask in dependence of the time BAM conducted a large scale impact limiter thermal test. For that, a pre-damaged impact limiter with a diameter of 2,3 m was mounted on a water tank simulating a cask. A complex system of a regulated pump, a heater, a cooler, a slide valve, a flow meter and numerous thermocouples were installed and connected to a control unit to ensure all needed operating conditions.
After a pre-heating compared to typical SNF decay-heat, the 30 min lasting fire phase of the thermal test was started. After that, the expected and initiated smoldering began. The results of the large scale test are presented in this poster. Systematic small scale tests will follow to identify the influence of different parameters, e.g. moisture content and scale effects. The tests took place at BAM Test Site for Technical Safety (TTS) with its various possibilities for mechanical and thermal tests. The results of these tests will have direct influence in the safety assessment of transport cask for the transport of radioactive material.
This presentation focusses on the thermal test of a typical storage container design for the German final storage repository KONRAD. The preparation of the container, the conduction of the fire test itself and results like the temperature evolution and as-sumptions for thermal material properties are shown.
As thermal test final storage containers have to be exposed to a fire of 800 °C (1472 °F) for 1 hour according to the final storage conditions provided by the federal com-pany for radioactive waste disposal (BGE). The here discussed cask contains a steel covered concrete layer of a thickness of 100/150 mm. Heating up concrete is a highly nonlinear process since the vaporization of residual water consumes high amounts of thermal energy and produce vast amounts of steam.
The constantly measured temperatures provide the basis to adjust common models of thermal properties for concrete esp. for FEAs. Finally in a later step this will allow predictions of similar designed container with different sizes.
The paper focuses on the preliminary determination of the bar length and the experimental performance of the 1m-puncture test in compliance with the guidelines of the IAEA under the given boundary conditions. Following aspects have to be considered concerning the determination of an appropriate length of the bar to obtain maximum damage to the specimen: the design of the package, its drop orientation and the impact point as well as a pre-damage of the package resulting from a previous 9m drop test. According to the Regulations the minimum length of the bar is defined as 20 cm, which has to be adapted to the outer surface of the package, especially to packages with large impact limiters.
In this context, two main aspects are important: First, the realisation of a maximum puncture load applied to the package while no other component of the package has contact with the impact target. Second, the reduction of the risk of buckling and maximising the stiffness of the bar by a length which is as short as possible. In order to optimize the bar length, finite element calculations are often done by simulating the global behaviour of the package during the puncture test. The evaluation of the conducted puncture test regarding IAEA compliance is done by analysing deceleration measurements. The paper presents a possible approach to determine the length of the bar and the construction of a form-fitted connection to the target showing various examples of puncture tests.
A preliminary analysis has been presented on the advantages for Mexico to migrate the cargo from trucking to railways. While the approach is highly unrealistic, it describes interesting figures that should animate the interest of Mexico to develop its railway infrastructure. Adverse situations due to the topographic characteristics of the mostly populated area of Mexico. The data presented in this paper suggest that the building of railway infrastructure is economically feasible.
In practice, checks on dangerous goods transports often detect leaks of powdered dangerous goods from valved bags. In this work, the influence factors of a sudden release of powdery substances from the valves of valved bags were investigated. Drop tests were carried out on paper bags of UN design type 5M2 with internal sleeve valve using two different powdery substances (Esplas H130 and zinc oxide “Rotsiegel”). The internal sleeve valves of all test samples were not sift-proof with respect to both filling substances. For almost all test samples, the Esplas H130 powder already leaked out of pasted joints during manual filling. This is a contradiction to the requirement in UN 6.1.4.18.1, according to which closures and joints of paper bags 5M2 should be sift-proof. In the drop tests, longer valve lengths had a greater sealing effect for both filling substances (for filling degrees of at least 95% and for test samples which had already been mechanically loaded). As an extreme example, at the drop height of 1.20 m and a filling degree of 100%, the released amount of zinc oxide powder from a 10 cm long valve was about 16 times higher than from a valve length of 12.5 cm. The valve length is therefore a safety-relevant parameter and should be specified by the manufacturer. To ensure that only filling goods with similar physical properties in comparison to the test substance are used for valved bags, the user must be informed of the particle size of the test substance.
For many sealing applications rubbers are applied due to their special material properties and easy use. In many applications as e.g. in aviation, traffic or process technology the material can be exposed to low temperatures during operation. Therefore, it is important to know the material behaviour at those low temperatures to determine the temperature range that allows a safe operation of the seal.
In this work, we focus on the behaviour of elastomer seals at low temperatures with regard to potential decrease of leak-tightness or catastrophic seal failure of O-ring rubber seals. This is required as material properties of rubbers are strongly temperature dependent but their temperature application range is not always clearly defined.
Based on previous investigations which considered the physical material properties and the seal behaviour under purely static conditions we widen the focus on the sealing performance after a fast partial relief of compressed seals and additional materials.
For the investigations, different typical rubber seal materials were used as e.g. fluorocarbon (FKM), ethylene propylene diene (EPDM) and hydrogenated acrylonitrile-butadiene (HNBR) rubber.
The correlation of the physical material properties with seal performance is studied. This includes as well purely static sealing applications as the performance during/after fast partial relief of seals at low temperatures.
Recent developments in standards and IAEA guidance material for package load attachment points
(2018)
For transport package design and operation according to IAEA regulations, the package shall be securely stowed and its retention system shall be capable to withstand load conditions of routine transport. The supporting IAEA Advisory Material SSG-26 provides information how to do that.
Up to now package designers in different countries use other load factors for the design of attachment points than those specified in the IAEA guidance material. In particular the acceleration values vary between different countries and lead to difficulties during the validation of foreign approval certificates. Therefore the IAEA started a discussion process to review the existing guidance text. An international working group was constituted in 2013. Representatives came from different stakeholders, e.g. transport operators, competent authorities and modal organizations. The discussions concluded especially on the transport conditions which has to be considered for stowage design, including on the one hand the relevance of the load factors used for strength and fatigue analysis and on the other hand the criteria which have to be considered for the attachment points.
Another standard with relevance to the load attachment of packages is ISO 10276. This standard deals with trunnion design, manufacturing and operational aspects. The regular standard revision phase started in 2017. An expert group discussed new state-of-the-art technology and proposed revised text for the ISO standard for international discussion.
The paper describes relevant tie-down aspects, gives background argumentation, and tries to support harmonized application of the revised IAEA guidance material and future ISO 10276 standard.
Dichtungsverhalten bei niedrigen Temperaturen - Untersuchung der unteren Temperatureinsatzgrenze
(2018)
Elastomere werden vielfach in Produkten eingesetzt, die bei verschiedenen Temperaturen verwendet werden. Dabei sind O-Ringe kostengünstige Dichtelemente, die allerdings für die Funktionsfähigkeit und Sicherheit eines Produkts entscheidend sind. Die untere Temperatureinsatzgrenze ist dabei durchaus relevant und aus wissenschaftlicher Sicht nicht allgemeingültig zu definieren, da diese einerseits durch die Änderungen der Materialeigenschaften im Zuge des Gummi-Glas-Übergangs definiert werden, die Temperaturlage dieses Übergangs jedoch sehr stark von den jeweiligen Einsatzbedingungen (z.B. Frequenz) abhängt. Dadurch ergeben sich große Unterschiede zwischen statischen und dynamischen Anwendungen. Verschiedene Untersuchungen sollen vorgestellt und interpretiert werden, um das Auditorium auf verschiedene Herausforderungen aufmerksam zu machen und Lösungsansätze vorzustellen...
Accident safe packages for the transport of spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste shall fulfil international IAEA safety requirements. Compliance is shown by consecutive mechanical and thermal testing. Additional numerical analysis are usually part of the safety evaluation. For damage protection some package designs are equipped with wood filled impact limiters encapsulated by steel sheets. The safety of these packages is established in compliance with IAEA regulations. Cumulative mechanical and fire tests are conducted to achieve safety standards and to prevent loss of containment. Mechanical reliability is proven by drop tests. Drop testing might cause significant damage of the impact limiter steel sheets and might enable sufficient oxygen supply to the impact limiter during the fire test to ignite the wood filling. The boundary conditions of the fire test are precisely described in the IAEA regulatory. During the test the impact limiter will be subjected to a 30 minute enduring fire phase. Subsequent to the fire phase any burning of the specimen has to extinguish naturally and no artificial cooling is allowed. At BAM a large-scale fire test with a real size impact limiter and a wood volume of about 3m³ was conducted to investigate the burning behaviour of wood filled impact limiters in steel sheet encapsulation. The impact limiter was equipped with extensive temperature monitoring equipment. Until today burning of such impact limiters is not sufficiently considered in transport package design and more investigation is necessary to explore the consequences of the impacting fire. The objective of the large scale test was to find out whether a self-sustaining smouldering or even a flaming fire inside the impact limiter was initiated and what impact on the cask is resulting. The amount of energy, transferred from the impact limiter into the cask is of particular importance for the safety of heavy weight packages. With the intention of heat flux quantification a new approach was made and a test bench was designed.
Update on Work and Meetings in Germany about the Spent Fuel Behavior for Transport and Storage
(2018)
The presentation gives an update about the work on the spent fuel behavior for transport and storage in Germany. Recent developments and meetings are discussed. In this context the results of the hot cell tests on fuel rod segments performed at JRC in Karslruhe in collaboration with BAM are shown. Furthermore, a new research project about the investigations on potential brittle failure of cladding materials under long-term dry interim storage conditions, which is currently starting at BAM 3.4 is presented.
Das Einsatzspektrum von den besonders leichten Druckbehältern aus Faserverbund-werkstoffen erweitert sich kontinuierlich. Dies führt dazu, dass mit der erweiterten Verwendung auch die thermisch zulässigen Einsatzgrenzen dieser Behälter ausgeschöpft und sogar teilweise überschritten werden. So können bspw. Atemluftflaschen im Brandeinsatz der Feuerwehr an der Behälteroberfläche derart hohen Umgebungstemperaturen ausgesetzt werden, dass die zulässige Höchsttemperatur von 65 °C deutlich überschritten wird.
Durch experimentelle Temperaturversuche an Typ-III-Atemluftflaschen mit einem Innenbehälter aus Aluminium konnte gezeigt werden, dass bei der Brandbekämpfung die untersuchten Atemluftflaschen lokal über das in der Zulassung abgeprüfte Temperaturspektrum erhitzt werden. Der Glasübergangsbereich des Faserverbundwerkstoffs wird partiell um bis zu 95 °C überschritten. Um die reale Sicherheit der Atemluftflasche bewerten zu können, wurde ein analytisches Hybridbehältermodell entwickelt, das die Beanspruchungen mit validierten Materialtemperaturverläufen berechnet. Mit der Einbindung von Schädigungsansätzen konnte ein bisher nicht hinreichend beachtetes thermisches Degradationsverhalten in den Berechnungen berücksichtigt werden. Zudem wurden insgesamt 90 altersbedingt ausgesonderte Feuerwehr-Atemluftflaschen zerstörend geprüft, um nähere Erkenntnisse über den Sicherheitszustand am Ende der Lebenszeit zu erhalten.
In diesem Kolloquium werden Forschungsergebnisse vorgestellt, die im Rahmen einer Promotionsarbeit die Auswirkungen dieser erhöhten thermischen Betriebslasten auf eine Typ-III-Atemluftflasche mit einem Innenbehälter aus Aluminium darstellen und bewerten.
Aufgrund zwischenstaatlicher Verträge werden in den nächsten Jahrzehnten zahlreiche Transporte von hoch radioaktiven Abfällen notwendig. Die BAM führt die Bauartprüfung von dafür vorgesehenen Castor-Behältern durch. In diesem Zusammenhang sind 17 Fallprüfungen durchgeführt worden. Ergänzt werden diese durch komplexe numerische Analysen, die die BAM prüft und eigene Modellierungen vornimmt. Der Beitrag stellt darüber hinaus das mehrjährige Validierungsverfahren zur Akzeptanz der bruchmechanischen Berechnungswerkzeuge vor.
Drop testing of a container for the storage, transport and disposal of intermediate level waste
(2018)
Impact tests were performed, as part of a corresponding container’s substantiation, during design development of a shielded container proposed for use at Sellafield for waste retrieval from the First Generation Magnox Storage Pond (FGMSP) in the UK.
The mechanical test program comprised a 9m free drop test onto an unyielding target in a container long lid edge down orientation at ambient conditions. Further, a 0,5m free drop test onto a punch target was performed. Here, the container was orientated with the lid downwards in a way that the punch, a mild steel bar, impacts a filter lid.
The test specimen was instrumented with strain gauges and accelerometers for the drop tests. Transient strains at selected points of the inner and outer container walls, at the shielding lid, as well as at the lid bolts were measured during the container’s impact. Furthermore, decelerations of the container body, container lid, and the skip were measured. The complex geometrical changes of the container due to impact were determined by optical 3d- deformation measures using the projected fringes method in combination with multi-image photogrammetry.
This paper summarizes the performance of the drop tests and various drop test results in context with the design development as well as aspects regarding the associated Finite Element (FE) analyses and post-test evaluation.
Wasserdruckprüfung kann entfallen: Schutzziel definieren, Qualitätssichernde Maßnahmen während der Herstellung, Nachweise der vorhandenen Qualität muss stetig erfolgen mittels: Betriebsüberwachung, zfP Bewertung des Standes der Technik: Zustandsorientierte Instandhaltung/Inspektion, Reduzierung von Ausfallzeiten durch optimierten Betrieb
Typical transport packages used in Germany are equipped with encapsulated wooden impact limiting devices. We would like to present the current status regarding the development of a Finite Element (FE) material model for the crush of wood for the FE-code LS-DYNA. The crush of is a phenomenon governed by macroscopic fracture. Here, we would like to reproduce fracture and failure mechanisms over the continuous volume. In a first step we altered an existing LS-DYNA material model for foams, which considers an ellipse shaped yield surface. For the use for longitudinal compression of wood, we modified the existing material model to consider the deviatoric strain for the evolution of the yield surface as well. This is in accordance with the results of crush tests with spruce wood specimens, where the crushing deformation was rather deviatoric for uniaxial stress states and rather volumetric for multiaxial stress states We rate the basic idea of this approach to be reasonable, though other problems exist regarding the shape of the yield surface and the assumption of isotropic material properties. Therefore we developed a new transversal isotropic material model with two main directions, which considers different yield curves according to the multiaxiality of the stress state via a multi-surface yield criterion and a non-associated flow rule. The results show the ability to reproduce the basic strength characteristics of spruce wood. Nevertheless, problems with regularization etc. show that additional investigations are necessary.
Component and material investigations on metal seals for high level radioactive waste containers
(2018)
In Germany casks for interim storage of spent nuclear fuel and high level radioactive waste are equipped with Helicoflex® metal seals as main sealing barrier of the double lid system. The long-term behaviour of those seals is investigated at Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und –prüfung (BAM) in order to evaluate the safety function of the containment at different temperatures over storage periods of 40 years or more in case extended interim storage becomes necessary.
Long-term investigations have been done for ageing times of up to 8.5 years at temperatures ranging from room temperature to 150 °C. It was found that the seal force and useable resilience decrease over time, which is mainly caused by creep deformation of the aluminium (or silver) outer jacket of the seals. This effect becomes stronger with increasing temperature.
The ageing processes of the seal material and the overall seal behaviour is under investigation in order to derive analytical descriptions for the long-term seal performance. Thus, standardized tests on the basic seal materials, with focus on aluminium, and additional investigations on the seals as a component are conducted. The current investigations include compression and tension creep measurements as well as tensile testing. Furthermore, ageing of seal segments provides information on the development of the contact area width, jacket thickness and microstructural changes in dependence of time and temperature. The obtained data are used for the development of material models and an analytical approach to describe and predict the time and temperature dependent sealing behaviour in the long-term.
Heizöllagerbehälter aus Polyethylenformstoffen werden seit Beginn der 70-iger Jahre in Deutschland hergestellt. Die Hersteller empfehlen zur Gewährleistung der Sicherheit nach Ablauf von 30 Jahren den Ersatz dieser Behälter. Polyethylenformstoffe unterliegen im Laufe ihrer Nutzungsdauer der Alterung durch die Veränderung ihrer Eigenschaften. Das Ausmaß der Alterung und die Art des Abbauvorganges hängen im Wesentlichen vom chemischen Abbau des Polyethylens, der Wanddicke des Behälters und den Umgebungsbedingungen ab. Bisher lagen keine Untersuchungen zum Langzeitverhalten der Polyethylenformstoffe vor, insbesondere nach einer Nutzungsdauer der Tanks über 30 Jahre. Ziel der Untersu-chungen war, den tatsächlichen Schädigungsgrad der Polyethylenformstoffe im Vergleich zu den unbelasteten Formstoffen zu ermitteln. Da die BAM bis Mitte der 90-iger Jahre für die Prüfungen und Gutachten zur Zulassung dieser Behälter zuständig war, sind die Werkstoffdaten noch vorhanden.
Als Untersuchungsmethoden wurden die Bestimmung der Schmelze-Masse-Fließrate (MFR) und die Fourier-Transformation-IR-Spektroskopie (FTIR) von Tankausschnitten aus dem Bereich des Bodens, des Mantels und des Daches von 10 ausgesonderten Behältern aus den Polyethylenformstoffen A und B herangezogen. Die Messungen der MFR der Tankaus-schnitte aus diesen Bereichen zeigten Unterschiede in den Werten in Abhängigkeit vom Ge-wicht (5 kg oder 21,6 kg), welches eingesetzt wurde. Eine Abnahme der MFR-Werte wurde für die größere Anzahl der Tankwandungsausschnitte aus dem Formstoff B nach einer Lebensdauer der Tanks > 30 Jahre gemessen. Dieser Formstoff wurde hauptsächlich durch innere Alterung infolge Vernetzungen, Verzweigungen und Weichmacherverlust und weniger durch oxidativen Abbau geschädigt. Die FTIR-Messungen der Proben aus dem Bereich des Bodens und des Mantels der Tanks zeigten, dass die Intensität der asymmetrischen/symmetrischen CH2 -Streckschwingungen im Bereich: 2800 - 2900 cm-1 und der CH2 -Biegeverformungsschwingung bei 1400 cm-1 aufgrund von Kettenspaltungen zugenommen haben. Die Intensität der Carbonylstreckschwingung C=O bei 1740 cm-1 ist niedrig. Sie ist ein Maß für die Oxidation des Polymerwerkstoffes.
In practice, checks on dangerous goods transports often detect leaks of powdered dangerous goods from valved bags. In this work, the influence factors of a sudden release of powdery substances from the valves of valved bags were investigated. Drop tests were carried out on paper bags of UN design type 5M2 with internal sleeve valve using two different powdery substances (Esplas H130 and zinc oxide “Rotsiegel”).
The internal sleeve valves of all test samples were not sift-proof with respect to both filling substances. For almost all test samples, the Esplas H130 powder already leaked out of pasted joints during manual filling. This is a contradiction to the requirement in UN 6.1.4.18.1, according to which closures and joints of paper bags 5M2 should be sift-proof.
In the drop tests, longer valve lengths had a greater sealing effect for both filling substances (for filling degrees of at least 95% and for test samples which had already been mechanically loaded). As an extreme example, at the drop height of 1.20 m and a filling degree of 100%, the released amount of zinc oxide powder from a 10 cm long valve was about 16 times higher than from a valve length of 12.5 cm. The valve length is therefore a safety-relevant parameter and should be specified by the manufacturer.
To ensure that only filling goods with similar physical properties in comparison to the test substance are used for valved bags, the user must be informed of the particle size of the test substance.
During dynamic processes, a certain range of strain rates is often observed along loaded structures and components. For precise numerical simulations, it is necessary to determine rate-dependent properties in dynamic tests and to describe the material behavior correctly within an appropriate domain of strain rates including adiabatic heating effects at higher strain rates, typically higher than 10 1/s. In principle, numerical simulations are compared to experimental results to verify the applied material models. For dynamic tensile tests considering ductile materials and large plastic deformation beyond uniform elongation, it is challenging to obtain comparable results due to plastic instability and necking of the specimen, e.g..
Based on the strain gradient in a general tensile specimen, a theoretical criterion was derived describing the plastic instability in rate-dependent materials under isothermal conditions in. It was applied to different multiplicative and additive constitutive relations and the analytical onset of necking was compared to results from numerical calculations of quasi-static and dynamic tensile tests. The simulations of a sheet-metal specimen with rectangular cross-section were carried out using the Finite Element Method and it was found that the numerical calculated and the theoretical predicted onset of plastic instability agree very good. The analytical criterion for instability holds even for specimens without geometrical or material imperfections and confirms that the onset of plastic instability must be considered a material characteristic.
However, real dynamic problems with higher strain rates are not isothermal, the heat generated by plastic work is not dissipated to the surrounding and the temperature of the material increases significantly. Adiabatic heating and thermal softening must be considered within the constitutive relations of rate-dependent materials and the discussion of plastic instability. In this paper, an enhanced and more generalized approach for the description of the condition for stability is discussed and applied to phenomenological as well as more physical constitutive relations from the literature. This allows an individual assessment of the accuracy and verification of rate-dependent material models with respect to plastic instability.
Defining a reduced volume zone for the simulation of burst test on composite pressure vessels
(2018)
The developed model uses a Monte-Carlo simulation to evaluate the accumulation of fibre breaks on composite structures. As the micromechanical aspects affecting the accumulation process is evaluated within a particular finite element size (0.1 mm x 0.1 mm x 8 mm), the industries would not be able to use the model on a real-size structure. Therefore, the reduced volume method is used to provide the statistical information between the required number of elements and simulations.
The fibre-break model developed at Mines ParisTech has been able to show the effect of pressurisation rate on pressure vessels. This simulation however had to use a smaller model, as the computation time becomes enormous for simulating a real-scale pressure vessel. Reduced volume method then has been studied on different model configuration. The study showed that the method can be used only on certain configurations. It also gives a positive insight to reduce the computation time.
Materials compatibility is a major concern whenever the fuel composition is changed. The question arises of whether sealing materials are resistant to fuels with bioethanol and biodiesel (rapeseed oil fatty acid methyl ester).
Previous research considered the resistance of frequently used sealing materials such as FKM (fluorocarbon rubber), FVMQ (methyl-fluoro-silicone rubber), VMQ (methyl-vinyl-silicone rubber), EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene rubber), CR (chloroprene rubber), CSM (chlorosulfonated polyethylene), IIR (butyl rubber), PA (polyamides), NBR (acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber) and PUR (polyester urethane rubber) in fuels and heating oil with admixtures of biogenic substances such as biodiesel and B10 (heating oil with 10 % biodiesel) under purely static conditions.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the fluorocarbon rubber performance under compressed conditions. For the investigations, the mass and the compression set of the FKM test specimens were determined before and after exposure for 3, 7, 14, 28, 56 and 90 days in E10 (fuel with 10 % ethanol), E85 (fuel with 85 % ethanol), biodiesel (fatty acid methyl ester, FAME), Super (fuel with max. 5 % ethanol), diesel fuel with max. 5 % biodiesel, pure diesel fuel, Super Plus (fuel without ethanol) and heating oil with 10 % biodiesel (B10) at 40 °C according to ISO 815-1 “Rubber, vulcanized or thermoplastic - determination of compression set – Part 1: At ambient or elevated temperatures”. The compression set test belongs beside the determination of the Shore hardness, the density and the tensile properties to the basic test methods for elastomers. It was measured in regular time intervals up to a re-drying of more than 90 days after relaxation of test specimens. For comparison, FKM test specimens were exposed without fuel under compressed conditions at 40 °C.
The highest mass increase of FKM test specimens was measured after 90 days exposure in E10 by 9 %, followed by 8 % in Super fuel, by 4 % in E85 and by 0.6 % in biodiesel. Mass increase and swelling of the test specimens in E10 and Super fuel with max. 5 % ethanol had an influence on the compression set values which were subject to high fluctuations in comparison to the values obtained after exposure to other fuels such as biodiesel, diesel fuel and B10.
The results of the present work confirmed the higher swelling of the elastomers such as FKM in E10 obtained under static condition. It can be concluded on the basis of the mass increase and compression set values that FKM is resistant in all fuels under compressed conditions at 40 °C.
Formulations have been assembled and (some) have been validated to simulate the potential damaging effect of a sloshing cargo on the railway material. Results suggest that: -Spatial determinism of the wheel forces due to sloshing, as a function of curve radius, distance between wheelsets and vehicle speed. -Sloshing forces can contribute in a significant way to railway material failure. Further analysis should be performed:-to validate these results (field observations)-to include a stress analysis of the potential effect of the yaw stiffness of the cars on the rail forces.
Comparative simulations of rail and road infrastructure with the transportation of liquid cargoes
(2018)
A simulation approach has been presented to analyze the lateral stability and infrastructure damage potentials of rail and road transportation of liquid cargoes. The normalized and comparative performance of both modes of transport, reveals that the railway transportation is, comparatively, more aggressive with the infrastructure, and less safe.
Low temperature performance of rubber seals - Influence of crystallite formation on seal performance
(2018)
Rubbers are widely used as sealing materials in various applications. In many fields the function of seal materials at low temperatures is necessary. Therefore, the understanding of failure mechanisms that lead to leakage at low temperatures is of high importance.
It is known that rubbers possess strongly temperature dependent material properties. At low temperatures high changes in the material properties are observed which can be caused by the rubber-glass transition (abbr. glass transition) or for some rubbers also by partial crystallisation at lower temperatures. During continuous cooling the material changes during rubber-glass transition from rubber-like entropy-elastic behaviour to stiff energy-elastic behaviour. In case of (thermal-) crystallisation the formed crystallites act as additional (physical) crosslinks within the material but the molecules in the amorphous phase can still behave like a rubber. Hence, rubbers are normally used above rubber-glass transition and (thermal-) crystallization temperature but the minimum working temperature limit is heavily depending on the application conditions. Therefore, the lower operation temperature limit of rubber seals is under investigation.
In the past we have investigated material properties and sealing behaviour of rubber seals at low temperatures. As the initial work was dedicated to purely static sealing conditions we started to investigate the effect of a small partial release of rubber seals at low temperatures to study the influence of dynamic events on leak tightness. In addition, other groups report on the influence of counterpart surface and adhesion.
In this contribution we focus on the difference between purely amorphous elastomers and elastomers which become partially crystalline at low temperatures. The influence of partial crystallization on the low temperature performance of rubber seals is discussed.
There was a need to validate the longitudinal performance required for the cargo securement, as current standards exhibit differences.
A model has been proposed in this paper, to simulate the effect of a shifting cargo on the braking efficiency of the vehicle. Results suggest that the braking efficiency can be greater in the case of a shifting cargo, as a result of the uncoupling of the cargo-vehicle systems, implying that similar braking forces are exerted on a reduced mass. The shifting of the cargo can occur as a result of the vibration of the vehicle, that leads to having a diminished friction force to prevent the shifting of the cargo.
Häufig ist es wünschenswert, für neue Materialien oder Anwendungen künstliche Bewitterungsverfahren zu benutzen, die auf die spezifischen Anforderungen besser zugeschnitten sind, als es bei bestehenden standardisierten Verfahren der Fall ist. Nachdem man die spezifischen Parameter der Beanspruchung unter Anwendungsbedingungen und die spezifische Empfindlichkeit des Materials erfasst hat, beginnt ein Prozess, der als „Test Tailoring“ häufig abstrakt verwendet, auf den aber nur selten näher eingegangen wird. Genau dieser Prozess soll hier am Beispiel der Entwicklung eines künstlichen Bewitterungstests unter saurer Beaufschlagung, dem in der BAM entwickelten Acid Dew and Fog Test, beispielhaft erläutert werden.
Es werden die Ergebnisse von Leckageratenmessungen an den Verschlüssen von Gefahrgutverpackungen unterschiedlicher Bauarten vorgestellt. Die Prüfungen wurden mit dem Überdruckverfahren mit Ansammlung unter Verwendung des Prüfgases Helium vorgenommen. Die gemessenen Deckelleckageraten zeigen Größenordnungsunteschiede von mehreren Zehnerpotenzen. Durch einen Vergleich mit berechneten Grenzwerten lässt sich die Indentifizierung kritischer Bauarten vornehmen.
Untersuchung der stoßartigen Freisetzung pulverförmiger Füllgüter aus Ventilsäcken für Gefahrgüter mit Innenventil. Fallprüfungen an einem Papiersack 5M2 mit zwei Füllgütern (Esplas H130 und Zinkoxid). Variation von Ventillänge, Fallhöhe und Füllgrad in Kombination mit der Anzahl der Fallversuche pro Prüfmuster. Bei Esplas H 130 war ein Pulveraustritt aus den Klebestellen bereits beim Befüllen zu verzeichnen. Dies ist ein Widerspruch zu UN 6.1.4.18.1 (Staubdichheit). Bei beiden Substanzen waren die Ventile aller Prüfmuster nach der Fallprüfung nicht mehr staubdicht. Es wird auf erste mögliche Lösungsvorschläge eingegangen.
Untersuchung der stoßartigen Freisetzung pulverförmiger Füllgüter aus Ventilsäcken für Gefahrgüter mit Innenventil. Fallprüfungen an einem Papiersack 5M2 mit zwei Füllgütern (Esplas H130 und Zinkoxid). Variation von Ventillänge, Fallhöhe und Füllgrad in Kombination mit der Anzahl der Fallversuche pro Prüfmuster. Bei Esplas H 130 war ein Pulveraustritt aus den Klebestellen bereits beim Befüllen zu verzeichnen. Dies ist ein Widerspruch zu UN 6.1.4.18.1 (Staubdichheit). Bei beiden Substanzen waren die Ventile aller Prüfmuster nach der Fallprüfung nicht mehr staubdicht. Es wird auf erste mögliche Lösungsvorschläge eingegangen.
The objective of this research was to determine the resistance of frequently used sealing materials such as FKM (fluorocarbon rubber), FVMQ (methyl-fluoro-silicone rubber), VMQ (methyl-vinyl-silicone rubber), EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene rubber), CR (chloroprene rubber), CSM (chlorosulfonated polyethylene), IIR (butyl rubber), PA (polyamides), NBR (acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber) and PUR (polyester urethane rubber) in fuels and heating oil with admixtures of biogenic sources such as E10 (fuel with 10 % ethanol), E85 (fuel with 85 % ethanol), non-aged and aged biodiesel, diesel fuel with 5 % biodiesel, non-aged and aged B10 (heating oil with 10 % biodiesel) at 20 °C, 40 °C and 70 °C.
Mass, tensile strength and breaking elongation of the test specimens were determined before and after the exposure for 84 days in the fuels. The visual examination of some elastomer test specimens clearly showed the great volume increase until break or partial dissolution. Shore hardness A and D (for PA) were determined before and after exposure of the test specimens in the biofuels for 42 days.
There is not determined a threshold for the reduction in tensile properties and Shore hardness in the international standards. Therefore a threshold of 15 % was determined for the evaluation of the compatibility.
In summary, it can be therefore stated that the chemical resistance of the fluoropolymers FKM and FVMQ in fuels and biofuels is the best one.
Small and large-scale tests have been carried out Pressure vessel – to improve numerical modelling Different types of fire must be distinguished Modelling of vessels were discussed Test configuration has been developed to see what happens in the vessel First results encourage us to continue the Research Thermohydraulics needs further work (boundary layers).
Accident safe packages for the transport of spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste shall fulfil international IAEA safety requirements. Compliance is shown by consecutive mechanical and thermal testing. Additional numerical analysis are usually part of the safety evaluation. For damage protection some package designs are equipped with wood filled impact limiters encapsulated by steel sheets. The safety of these packages is established in compliance with IAEA regulations. Cumulative mechanical and fire tests are conducted to achieve safety standards and to prevent loss of containment. Mechanical reliability is proven by drop tests. Drop testing might cause significant damage of the impact limiter steel sheets and might enable sufficient oxygen supply to the impact limiter during the fire test to ignite the wood filling. The boundary conditions of the fire test are precisely described in the IAEA regulatory. During the test the impact limiter will be subjected to a 30 minute enduring fire phase. Subsequent to the fire phase any burning of the specimen has to extinguish naturally and no artificial cooling is allowed. At BAM a large-scale fire test with a real size impact limiter and a wood volume of about 3m³ was conducted to investigate the burning behaviour of wood filled impact limiters in steel sheet encapsulation. The impact limiter was equipped with extensive temperature monitoring equipment. Until today burning of such impact limiters is not sufficiently considered in transport package design and more investigation is necessary to explore the consequences of the impacting fire. The objective of the large scale test was to find out whether a self-sustaining smouldering or even a flaming fire inside the impact limiter was initiated and what impact on the cask is resulting. The amount of energy, transferred from the impact limiter into the cask is of particular importance for the safety of heavy weight packages. With the intention of heat flux quantification a new approach was made and a test bench was designed. A first computational simulation of transport package temperatures taking into account the results of the conducted fire test was performed.
Heizöllagerbehälter aus Polyethylenformstoffen werden seit Beginn der 70-iger Jahre in Deutschland hergestellt. Die Hersteller empfehlen zur Gewährleistung der Sicherheit nach Ablauf von 30 Jahren den Ersatz dieser Behälter. Polyethylenformstoffe unterliegen im Laufe ihrer Nutzungsdauer der Alterung durch die Veränderung ihrer Eigenschaften. Das Ausmaß der Alterung und die Art des Abbauvorganges hängen im Wesentlichen vom chemischen Abbau des Polyethylens, der Wanddicke des Behälters und den Umgebungsbedingungen ab. Bisher lagen keine Untersuchungen zum Langzeitverhalten der Polyethylenformstoffe vor, insbesondere nach einer Nutzungsdauer der Tanks über 30 Jahre. Ziel der Untersu-chungen war, den tatsächlichen Schädigungsgrad der Polyethylenformstoffe im Vergleich zu den unbelasteten Formstoffen zu ermitteln. Da die BAM bis Mitte der 90-iger Jahre für die Prüfungen und Gutachten zur Zulassung dieser Behälter zuständig war, sind die Werkstoffdaten noch vorhanden.
Als Untersuchungsmethoden wurden die Bestimmung der Schmelze-Masse-Fließrate (MFR) und die Fourier-Transformation-IR-Spektroskopie (FTIR) von Tankausschnitten aus dem Bereich des Bodens, des Mantels und des Daches von 10 ausgesonderten Behältern aus den Polyethylenformstoffen A und B herangezogen. Die Messungen der MFR der Tankaus-schnitte aus diesen Bereichen zeigten Unterschiede in den Werten in Abhängigkeit vom Ge-wicht (5 kg oder 21,6 kg), welches eingesetzt wurde. Eine Abnahme der MFR-Werte wurde für die größere Anzahl der Tankwandungsausschnitte aus dem Formstoff B nach einer Lebensdauer der Tanks > 30 Jahre gemessen. Dieser Formstoff wurde hauptsächlich durch innere Alterung infolge Vernetzungen, Verzweigungen und Weichmacherverlust und weniger durch oxidativen Abbau geschädigt. Die FTIR-Messungen der Proben aus dem Bereich des Bodens und des Mantels der Tanks zeigten, dass die Intensität der asymmetrischen/symmetrischen CH2 -Streckschwingungen im Bereich: 2800 - 2900 cm-1 und der CH2 -Biegeverformungsschwingung bei 1400 cm-1 aufgrund von Kettenspaltungen zugenommen haben. Die Intensität der Carbonylstreckschwingung C=O bei 1740 cm-1 ist niedrig. Sie ist ein Maß für die Oxidation des Polymerwerkstoffes.
Die Bewertung der Werkstoffbeständigkeit ist von großer Bedeutung bei Änderung der Zusammensetzung der Kraftstoffe und des Heizöls, insbesondere die Frage nach der Beständigkeit der Dichtungswerkstoffe bei Zusätzen von Bioethanol und Biodiesel (Rapsölfettsäuremethylester).
Vorhergehende Untersuchungen (Messungen der Veränderungen der Masse, der Zugeigenschaften und der Härte) bezogen sich auf die Bewertung der Beständigkeit häufig verwendeter Dichtungswerkstoffe wie FKM, FVMQ, VMQ, EPDM, CR, CSM, IIR, PA, NBR und PUR in Kraftstoffen und Heizöl mit 10 % Biodiesel (nicht gealtert und bis zu 5 Jahre gealtert) unter statischen Bedingungen.
Ziel der Untersuchungen war die Bewertung der Beständigkeit von Fluorkautschuk unter verpressten Bedingungen in Analogie zu den Einsatzbedingungen in der Praxis. Die Masse und der Druckverformungsrest von Prüfkörpern aus FKM wurden vor und nach der Auslagerung über einen Zeitraum von 3, 7, 14, 28, 56 und 90 Tagen in E10 (Kraftstoff mit max. 10 % Ethanol), E85 (Kraftstoff mit 85 % Ethanol), Biodiesel (Rapsölfettsäuremethylester), Super (Kraftstoff mit max. 5 % Ethanol), Dieselkraftstoff mit max. 5 % Biodiesel, Super Plus (Kraftstoff ohne Ethanolzusatz) und Heizöl mit 10 % Biodiesel (B10) bei 40 °C gemäß ISO 815-1 bestimmt. Die Druckverformungsrestprüfung zählt neben der Messung der Härte, der Dichte und der Zugeigenschaften zu den wichtigsten Grundprüfverfahren der Elastomerindustrie. Nach Ende der Auslagerung in den Kraftstoffen und der Aufhebung der Verpressung wurde der Druckverformungsrest der Prüfkörper in regelmäßigen Zeitabständen bis zu einer Rücktrocknung > 90 Tage bestimmt. Zum Vergleich wurden Prüfkörper aus FKM ohne Kraftstoff oder Heizöl unter Verpressung bei 40 °C ausgelagert.
Die Masseänderung der Prüfkörper aus FKM betrug nach 90 Tagen Auslagerung in E10 9 %, in Super 8 %, in E85 4% und 0,6 % in Biodiesel. Die Erhöhung der Masse und die damit verbundene Quellung der Prüfkörper in E10 und Super mit 5 – 10% Ethanolzusatz hatte einen Einfluss auf den Druckverformungsrest, der sprunghaften Veränderungen unterlag im Vergleich zu den Werten nach Auslagerung in Biodiesel, Dieselkraftstoff und Heizöl B10 bei 40 °C. Zum Vergleich, unter statischen Bedingungen verringerte sich die Zugfestigkeit der Prüfkörper aus FKM nach Auslagerung in E10 bei 40 °C um 31 % und die Reißdehnung um 18 %.
German packages for the transport of spent nuclear fuel are assessed with respect to specific transport conditions which are defined in the safety regulations of the International Atomic Energy Agency. In general, gastight fuel rods constitute the first barrier of the containment system. The physical state of the spent fuel and the fuel rod cladding as well as the geometric configuration of the fuel assemblies are important inputs for the evaluation of the package safety under transport conditions. The objective of this paper is to discuss the methodologies accepted by German authority BAM for the evaluation of spent fuel behavior within the package design approval procedure. Specific test conditions will be analyzed with regard to assumptions to be used in the activity release and criticality safety analysis. In particular the different failure modes of the fuel rods, which can cause release of gas, volatiles, fuel particles or fragments, have to be properly considered in these assumptions. The package as a mechanical system is characterized by a complex set of interactions, e.g. between the fuel rods within the assembly as well as between the fuel assemblies, the basket, and the cask containment. This complexity together with the limited knowledge about the material properties and the variation of the fuel assemblies regarding cladding material, burn-up and the operation history makes an exact mechanical analysis of the fuel rods nearly impossible. The application of sophisticated numerical models requires extensive experimental data for model verification, which are in general not available. The gaps in information concerning the material properties of cladding and pellets, especially for the high burn-up fuel, make the analysis more complicated additionally, and require a conservative approach. In this context some practical approaches based on experiences by BAM within safety assessment of packages for transport of spent fuel will be discussed. Ongoing research activities to investigate SNF mechanical behavior in view of gas and fissile material release under transport loads are presented.
Derzeit existieren für Gefahrgutverpackungen in den internationalen Gefahrgutvorschriften keine Festlegungen für quantitative Grenzleckageraten, die sich an Sicherheitsbetrachtungen während der Beförderung orientieren. Für die Dichtheitsprüfung im Rahmen der Bauartzulassung von Gefahrgutverpackungen für flüssige Füllgüter ist das Standardprüfverfahren das Eintauchverfahren in Wasser („Bubble Test“). Hierbei handelt es sich um ein lokalisierendes Prüfverfahren. Seine Anwendung lässt keine quantitative Aussage darüber zu, ob unter Beförderungsbedingungen aufgrund von strömungsbedingter Stofffreisetzung durch Leckstellen der Gefahrgutverpackungen die Gefahr der Bildung einer explosionsfähigen Atmosphäre besteht. Ziel der vorliegenden Untersuchungen ist daher, zunächst quantitative Dichtheitsanforderungen an Gefahrgutverpackungen im Hinblick
auf die Entstehung explosionsfähiger Dampf-Luft-Gemische während des
Transports zu entwickeln. Im Anschluss werden strömungsbedingte Leckageraten der Verschlüsse verschiedener Bauarten von Gefahrgutverpackungen gemessen. Der Vergleich der Messwerte mit den berechneten Grenzwerten ermöglicht die Einschätzung hinsichtlich der Bildung einer explosionsfähigen Atmosphäre. Dieser quantitative Ansatz zur Beurteilung der Dichtheit ist für Gefahrgutverpackungen derzeit noch nicht etabliert.
Die quantitative Leckageratenmessung der Gefahrgutverpackungen wird mit dem Überdruckverfahren mit Ansammlung (Akkumulationsverfahren) unter Verwendung von Helium als Prüfgas vorgenommen. Zusätzlich erfolgt die Detektion weiterer potentieller Leckstellen außerhalb des Verschlussbereiches mit dem Schnüffelverfahren. Bei allen untersuchten Bauarten, mit Ausnahme des 6 L-Feinstblechkanisters, ist der Verschluss die einzige systematische Leckstelle der Verpackung. Die Messung der Helium-Leckageraten und der anschließende Vergleich mit den berechneten Helium-Grenzleckageraten zeigt, dass folgende Bauarten hinsichtlich des Erreichens der unteren Explosionsgrenze (UEG) durch eine Leckageströmung als kritisch einzuschätzen sind: Kunststoffverpackungen mit Schraubverschlüssen mit Flachdichtung, wenn bei diesen bestimmte Schädigungsmuster im Verschlussbereich vorliegen; Feinstblechkanister, da bei ihnen nicht nur der Verschlussbereich eine Leckstelle darstellt; Kunststoffverpackungen mit Schraubverschlüssen mit Flachdichtung, wenn diese auch für Füllgüter der Verpackungsgruppe I zugelassen sind. Als Konsequenz sollten bei diesen kritischen Bauarten entweder Modifikationen in Bezug auf die Verpackung selbst oder auf die Transportbedingungen im Frachtcontainer vorgenommen werden.
Among other mechanical tests the 1 meter drop onto a steel puncture bar shall be considered for accident safe packages for the transport of radioactive material. According with the IAEA regulations “the bar shall be of solid mild steel of circular section, 15.0 ± 0.5 cm in diameter and 20 cm long, unless a longer bar would cause greater damage…”. The most damaging puncture bar length can be estimated by iterative processes in numerical simulations. On the one hand, a sufficient puncture bar length has to guarantee that shock absorbers or other attachments do not prevent or reduce the local load application to the package, on the other hand, a longer and thus less stiff bar causes a smaller maximum contact force. The contrary influence of increasing puncture bar length and increasing effective drop height shall be taken into account if a shock absorber is directly placed in the target area. The paper presents a numerical approach to identify the bar length that causes maximum damage to the package. Using the example of two typical package masses the sensitivity of contact forces and puncture bar deformations to the initial length are calculated and assessed with regard to the international IAEA package safety requirements.
Feasibility study: Continuous monitoring of pipes using distributed acoustic and fibre optic sensors
(2018)
The feasibility study „AGIFAMOR. Ageing infrastructures – distributed acoustic monitoring of pipes” is an interdisciplinary research project at BAM internally financed from 2015 to 2018. Therefore, the quite young fibre optic sensing technology of distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) was investigated to possibly be extended towards a global condition monitoring system for pipelines operating in real time.
DAS is a highly dynamic fibre optic sensing technology based on the method of coherent optical time domain reflectometry (C-OTDR). DAS allows capturing strain changes in the range of kHz. For the experimental work, the most suitable application yielding an optimum sensitivity was proven by wrapping a standard single-mode silica fibre around the pipe.
The DAS sensitivity was investigated regarding the detection of 1) incidents that initiate propagation of acoustic waves in the pipe wall, 2) changes inside the pipeline causing altered flow and 3) damage development in the pipe wall. Therefore, several testing setups in laboratory as well as in real scale were realized. For comparison purposes, experiments were accompanied by acoustic emission analyses and by measurements with accelerometers.
DAS was found to be very sensitive to gas ignition and its propagation across the pipe. Furthermore, the ability of DAS to detect and localize acoustic signals associated with pipeline leakage was demonstrated. The detection of crack formation and propagation within the pipe wall by means of DAS was studied during bending tests on several pipe segments, but was not proven so far with certainty. As expected, these studies turned out as the most difficult challenge due to the random occurrence and transient nature of microscopic damage phenomena.
In continuation of a preceding test series involving sole LPG vehicle tanks, three passenger cars equipped with identical toroidal steel LPG tanks were set on fire. The tanks were installed in the space normally reserved for the spare tyre, in the car boot. No safety device was installed on the tank, in order to force critical failure of the cylinder. Two of the cars were equipped with a tank filled with liquefied propane to a level of 20% (5.3 kg), the third one was filled completely (25.5 kg). The partially filled tanks failed critically within a time period of more than 20 min after the initiation of the fire. The fully-filled tank did not rupture; the propane was released continuously through a small leak that appeared during the fire. Comprehensive equipment was used to procure measurement data, enabling an analysis of potential consequences and hazards to humans and infrastructure within the vehicle surroundings. The inner status of the tank (pressure, temperature of the liquid phase and the steel casing), the development of the fire (temperature inside and around the vehicle) and the pressure induced in the near-field in case of tank rupture were recorded. The results were analysed in detail and compared against the data gained in tests involving sole, but identical LPG tanks.
To reduce the emission of CO2, liquified natural gas (LNG) is used as fuel. As the pipeline network is not developed all around the globe, LNG needs to be transported via ship or truck. Double-walled tanks made of steel with a vacuum insulation are currently used to keep LNG at cryogenic temperatures (-162 °C; 111 K). The double-walled construction makes the tanks heavy and expensive. Furthermore, there are some restriction to carry out in-service inspection using a double-wall design. Main topics: Lightweight design, superior thermal properties of GRP compared to steel Aim of this project is to develop a single-walled tank made of glass-fiber reinforced plastic (GRP) and an insulator, so that the tank pressure will not exceed 5 bar within a certain time, relative, as a result of the rising fluid temperature. First, the thermal and mechanical properties of GRP and the insulator at cryogenic temperatures must be determined. Liquid nitrogen (-196 °C; 77 K) is used for all experiments at cryogenic temperatures for safety reasons. Mechanical properties are analyzed by performing 3-point bending tests on cooled specimen. The tests show, that there are now significant changes on the mechanical properties of GRP, so that this material can be used in a cryogenic environment. To examine the thermal conductivity of GRP, a test rig is designed, in which one side of a GRP-laminate plate is cooled down while the other side is at room temperature at the beginning. Temperature is measured on both sides of the plate as well as inside the laminate. The temperature curves are then implemented in a ANSYS simulation to calculate thermal material properties. The experiments show, that the thermal conductivity of GRP is much lower than the one of steel, but still not low enough to design a single walled tank without an additional insulation. Therefore, a closed GRP pipe with insolation inside is immersed in liquid nitrogen for a defined time. Sensors record the surface temperatures inside and outside the specimen, as well as between insulation and GRP. With the data gained in this experiment, another ANSYS model is done. For correct simulation of the heat transfer between insulation and liquid nitrogen (or LNG later), a fluid simulation is necessary, which simulates the phase change from liquid to gaseous nitrogen. After validation of the model, a parameter study in the material properties of the insulation is performed, until a satisfying setup is achieved.
Um ein verlässliches Ergebnis der Monte-Carlo-Simulation zu garantieren, muss die Zuverlässigkeit des Tools vor dessen Anwendung sorgfältig geprüft werden. In diesem Vortrag werden die Validierung der angenommenen Verteilungsfunktionen, die Vertrauensbereiche und die Grenzwerte der generierten Grundgesamtheit vorgestellt. Darauf aufbauend wird der Ablauf der gesamten Simulation von der Erzeugung der Zufall-Variablen bis hin zur Akzeptanzrate gezeigt.
Gefahrgut darf nur in speziell dafür zugelassenen Umschließungen (Verpackungen, IBC, Großverpackungen etc.) transportiert werden. Die BAM ist in Deutschland die zuständige Behörde für die Erteilung von Zulassungen, für die (Baumuster-)Prüfung von Gefahrgutverpackungen sowie die Anerkennung der Qualitätssicherungsprogramme, nach denen die Gefahrgutverpackungen zu fertigen sind. Hierfür erlässt die BAM sogenannte BAM-GGRs (Gefahrgutregeln).
Für den Transport von Lithium-Batterien sind verschiedene Vorschriften des Transportrechts zu beachten. Insbesondere für defekte und beschädigte Lithium-Batterien, die beim Transport gefährlich reagieren, in Brand geraten oder giftige Gase freisetzen können, werden in 2019 neue Regelungen anwendbar sein. Die BAM ist in Deutschland zuständige Behörde für deren Umsetzung.
der Vortrag stellt den aktuellen Bearbeitungsstand und Ergebnisse des laufenden Drittmittelvorhabens LaMEP vor. Hierbei geht es um Alterungsprozesse an sicherheitsrelevanten Behälterkomponenten während der langfristigen trockenen Zwischenlagerung bestrahlter Brennlemente und hochradioaktiver Abfälle. Die Untersuchungen umfassen Metall- und Elstomerdichtungen sowie Polymerkomponenten zur Neutronenabschirmung.
Die Monte-Carlo-Simulation ist eine geeignete Methode, um Festigkeitseigenschaften wie z.B. Berstdruck, oder auch die Lastwechselfestigkeit von ganzen Population von Druckbehältern zu simulieren.
Dies erlaubt wiederum die systematische Analyse der Wirksamkeit von deterministischen Mindestanforderungen und die Optimierung entsprechender Zulassungsvorschriften.
At the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und –prüfung (BAM), within a recent research project, the aging process of composite pressure vessels is investigated in order to be able to give more accurate lifetime predictions in future. All investigations are primarily based on type III pressure vessels consisting of an aluminium tank which is fully wrapped with carbon fibre reinforced plastics. Research is focused on residual stresses which are induced into the pressure vessel during manufacturing process in order to increase high cycle fatigue. However, with increasing lifetime residual stress conditions of type III pressure vessels change. For measuring and monitoring inner stress conditions, the application of a non-destructive measurement method is aspired.
Within this paper, the potential of an experimental modal analysis is tested to determine aging and degradation effects of pressure vessels. Based on this method, information about changes of the residual stresses can be obtained via an analysis of the modal parameters. Realizing this, first a finite element model is used to prove and evaluate potential capability and validity for the application of an experimental modal analysis. Based on this, a test bench is set up and successively optimized in its accuracy and efficiency. The sensitivity of the applied measurement technique is experimentally evaluated via measuring multiple prestress modified pressure vessels. Furthermore, a selection of prestress modified pressure vessels is monitored via the presented method. Finally, experimentally obtained results are interpreted and evaluated with the help of numerically gained finding.
TAHYA Kick-Off Meeting
(2018)
Elastomers show a high versatility which makes them ideal materials for sealing applications in various fields. Especially under changing application conditions the high recovery potential of this class of material is beneficial to compensate temperature or pressure fluctuation, and geometrical changes resulting from mechanical loads in e.g. accident conditions. Out of these reasons elastomers are also used in containers for low and intermediate level radioactive waste and for spent fuel transportation casks. In cask designed for low and intermediate level waste elastomer seals can act as primary seal responsible for the containment function whereas in spent fuel storage and transportation casks (dual purpose casks (DPC)) elastomer seals are used as auxiliary seals to allow leakage rate measurements of metal barrier seals. An inherent prerequisite for this kind of application is the long time-scale of operation without or with limited possibility of seal replacement. In Germany an interim storage license for DPC`s is typically issued for 40 years, a timeframe which might increase in future due to challenges of the final repository siting procedure. For low and intermediate level waste, also long time periods are required before final disposal can be achieved. Therefore, the performance of elastomer seals over extended time periods is, as for other applications, of high importance.
A typical approach to ensure long-term functionality is to perform accelerated aging tests to calculate an estimated lifetime by assuming e.g. Arrhenius like equations for the time-temperature relationship. This approach requires a suitable end of life criterion considering the application of interest. This often can represent a challenge on its own.
As BAM is involved in most of the cask licensing procedures and especially responsible for the evaluation of cask-related long-term safety issues we initiated several test programs for investigating the behavior of elastomer seals. Experiments concerning the low temperature performance down to -40°C and the influence of gamma irradiation have been started first. Currently the thermal aging behavior of elastomer seals, which is the topic of this contribution, is examined.
For our aging investigations we use a broad approach to first determine the property changes in different elastomer materials due to thermo-oxidative aging at elevated temperatures and secondly we test how the typical methods of lifetime extrapolation can be applied to these results. This approach enables us to detect and exclude undesired side effects which very often influence lifetime estimations. In this contribution, our recent results are discussed.
Nach Phasen der nationalen Anwendung und dann eines multilateralen Agreements kommen die Beschaffenheitsanforderungen für sog. "over-moulded Cylinders" (umformte Flaschen) in das internationale Regelwerk. Aufgrund ihrer strukturellen Besonderheiten können jedoch nicht alle Formen der wiederkehrenden Prüfung auf diese Flaschen angewendet werden. Der Ausgleich dieses Defizits erforderte die mehrjährige Arbeit einer Arbeitsgruppe der gemeinsamen Tagung (UN ECE und OTIF) unter sehr engagierter Mitarbeit der BAM bis ein alternativer Ansatz hinreichend Zustimmung für die Aufnahme ins Regelwerk fand.
Das vorgestellte Grundkonzept basiert auf der zerstörenden Prüfung einer definierten Anzahl von Gasflaschen zu klar geregelten Zeitpunkten. Auf Basis der statistischen Auswertung der Ergebnissen sollen mögliche Fertigungsfehler oder unerwartet schnelle Alterungsprozesse gefunden werden können, ohne dass es zu Versagensfällen kommt.
Prüfungen, die technisch aussagekräftig durchgeführt werden können, bleiben obligatorisch.
Auf Grund ihres Gewichtsvorteils sind Faserverbundwerkstoffe beim Bau von Hochdruckbehältern die dominierenden Werkstoffe. Mit dem zunehmenden Optimierungsdruck, Materialkosten und Gewicht einzusparen, nimmt das Lastniveau zu, weshalb auch die Bedeutung der Degradationsprozesse steigt. An der Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) wird das Alterungsverhalten von Composite-Atemluftflaschen untersucht, um künftig genauere Aussagen zur Abschätzung der Lebensdauer und der damit einhergehenden Festlegung von Prüffristen geben zu können. Gegenstand der vorgestellten Untersuchungen sind Typ-III Druckbehälter, bestehend aus einem Aluminium-Liner und einer kohlefaserverstärkten Armierung. Dabei werden insbesondere Untersuchungen bezüglich der im Metall vorherrschenden Druckeigenspannungen betrachtet, welche zur Steigerung der Lastwechselfestigkeit fertigungsseitig induziert werden. Ziel ist es, mittels einer experimentellen Modalanalyse die inneren Spannungsverhältnisse zerstörungsfrei identifizieren und bewerten zu können. Auf Grund einer Vielzahl von Einflussfaktoren, wie beispielsweise alterungsbedingter Strukturveränderungen im Faserverbundmaterial oder Fertigungsabweichungen, ist jedoch die Einzelbewertung eines Prüfmusters sowie ein qualitativer Vergleich zwischen Behältern desselben Baumusters bisweilen nur schwer möglich. Durch die Vermessung einer Vielzahl von Testbehältern werden zunächst Maß und Umfang der auftretenden Abweichungen modaler Parameter erfasst. Mittels gezielter Modifikation einiger Messobjekte werden anschließend Abhängigkeiten identifiziert. Unterstützt werden die experimentellen Messungen durch die simultane Anwendung eines FE-Models, wobei simulative und experimentelle Ergebnisse verglichen sowie Einflüsse weiterer Parametervariationen numerisch erfasst und abgebildet werden können.
Der Vortrag zeigt den alternativen Ansatz mit wissenschaftlichem Hintergrund zur wiederkehrenden Prüfung von sog. over-moulded cylinders OMC, wie er ab ADR/RID 2019 im Recht zu finden sein wird.
Zuletzt wird noch erläutert, dass die Nutzung des Ansatzes für die Wasserstoffinfrastruktur eine große Bedeutung haben könnte.
Der Vortrag gibt zunächst einen Überblick über die Disziplinen, die in der BAM bzgl. Druckgefäßpüfung verfügbar sind. Außerdem ist zusammengestellt, mit welchen Vh-Beteiligungen und daraus resultierenden Lösungsansätzen die BAM jeweils zeitnah auf Änderungen im Recht, die die Aufgabe als zuständige Behörde betrafen, reagiert hat.
Danach wird in die Festigkeitskennwerte und deren Simulation mithilfe der Monte-Carlo-Simulation eingeführt und der Unterschied zwischen Überlebenswahrscheinlichkeit und Akzeptanzrate erläutert.
Darauf aufbauend wird gezeigt, wie die Akzeptanzrate grenzwertig zuverlässiger Grundgesamtheiten einer Prüfvorschrift ermittelt werden kann.
Zuletzt wird gezeigt, dass ein solcher Ansatz ein Optimierungspotential für Wasserstoff-Trailerflaschen eröffnet, sofern er konsequent angewendet wird.
Der Vortrag beginnt mit der Arbeitshypothese, dass das zentrale Maß für die Qualität der Fertigung die Streuung der Eigenschaften der gefertigten Produkte ist.
Auf dieser Basis wird eine Reihe von Prüfanlagen für die zerstörende Festigkeitsermittlung und zerstörungsfreie Vergleiche von Druckbehältern einschließlich zugehöriger statistischer Betrachtungen vorgestellt.
Zunächst werden die aus der Themenfeldstruktur der BAM resultierenden Änderungen im Auftreten der BAM vorgestellt und erläutert, wie diese für die Antragsteller zu verstehen sind.
Danach werden die Zielsetzung der GGRn 021 und 022 und deren inhaltlicher Ansatz vorgestellt und auch erläutert, welche Interaktion mit dem Distribtionsverkehr von gasförmigen Energeiträgern besteht.
Zuletzt wird dargelegt, welches Optimierungspotential hinter dem Ansatz in den GGRn steckt.
The presentation explains the intended way of BAM in tackling the safety issues in the project TAHYA.
The way how the term “safety” is used in TAHYA leads to the need for a more risk-based understanding of safety. Based on this, the Monte Carlo simulation is used to show where the weak points of current regulations are. Thus, a concept for optimization of relevant regulations, codes and standards will be elaborated during the project. For this purpose, it is helpful to improve the currently operated tool for Monte Carlo simulation, which will need additional data for monitoring the outcome. Strength data, that will be determined by BAM and the other partners during the already agreed test program can be used for this purpose without additional effort.
The presentation explains the term “safety” in a broader sense and leads to the need for a more risk-based understanding of safety. Based on this, the Monte Carlo simulation is used to show where the weak points of the ECE R 134 are and in which direction the GTR 13 could be optimized during the currently running phase 2. For this purpose, it is helpful to improve the currently operated tool for Monte Carlo simulation, for which BAM introduced the research idea “MoCaSiB”.
The presentation is divided in two parts, each evaluates a different aspect of safety.
It starts with the analysis of consequences resulting from worst case ruptures of gas cylinders. The number of harmed persons and fatalities dependent from the pressure-volume product and the kind of stored gas. In parallel, there is a national accepted rule for accepted failure rates depending from this pV-product created by BAM. When combining both aspects it become clear that the pressure-volume product can be used as a good indicator for consequences. At a level of about 120 MPa m3 the maximum consequence starts to become catastrophic character. This shows the reason why the representatives of DIN insisted in limiting relevant pV-limits for tubes and cylinders to 1 Mio. bar litres.
The second part gives a raff overview on the parameters influencing the acceptance rates of borderline basic populations. This is added by some slides giving an idea for the improvement of the minimum burst requirement and finally completed by a proposal for improved acceptance criteria for the burst test.
The basic idea is: an increased pV-product of tubes has the be reflected by an increased safety level.
Storage
(2018)
The whole conference focused on gaps in research concerning hydrogen and hydrogen safety. This presentation focus on storage aspects and shows the current gaps in research from the point of view of the authors. They have differences in background, from university via manufacturer and safety institute to hydrogen operating industry. The different purposes of storage are covered (onboard storage, stationary storage and transport of gases) as well as the different designs (steel to pure composite/plastic).
Accumulation of Fibre Breaks under Time Dependent Loads in CFRP Materials of Pressure Vessels
(2018)
BAM has discovered that the reliability of tested composite pressure vessel will be altered when the loading speed is varied. The ageing of composite materials in general gives negative effect to the structure, however there might be positive effect occurs due to the load redistribution between the fibres. The study on the negative effect of ageing has been compared favourably with the fibre break model from Mines ParisTech. To improve the model's capability, this positive effect should also be implemented. The problem however to evaluate real scale model that might take extensive computation time. The reduced volume method then was proposed to improve the calculation time. The next study is then to check the approach on different loading condition and compare the result with experimental data provided by BAM.
Fibre-reinforced plastics (FRP) especially carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) and glass-fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) are commonly used materials in high pressure vessels and storage units for automotive and aerospace purposes. Optical fibres are suitable to be integrated or directly applied to the surface of FRP components. Using optical fibres it is possible to monitor the distributed strain profiles and changes within the fatigue life of a pressure vessel to ensure the operational safety. Within artificial ageing experiments we used swept wavelength interferometry (SWI) based distributed strain sensing for the monitoring of commercial high-pressure composite cylinder. This artificial ageing was performed using test conditions of 503bar pressure load (service pressure 300 bar) and 89 °C for 100 h. The polyimide coated optical fibres were glued to the surface externally in circumferential and axial direction. Using distributed strain sensing (DSS) material expansion of over 0.5% were monitored with sub-centimetre spatial resolution. Within the circumferential direction we observed up to 10 % local fluctuation compared to the median strain caused by inhomogeneous material expansion, which could cause local material fatigue. In addition, we determined material degradation manifested itself as localized remaining material expansion and/or contraction. Results have been validated by other non-destructive methods like digital strip projection.
Defective or damaged Lithium batteries may react dangerously during transport. Requirements for the safe transport of such batteries have been developed at UN level. They are adopted in the respective transport regulations. BAM as competent authority has the task to interpret those regulations and has developed procedures for testing and approval.
Due to high specific stiffness, fibre reinforced plastics are the dominant material group for the design of mobile pressure vessels. At the Federal Institute of Materials Research and Testing (BAM) aging process of composite pressure vessels is studied to be able to give more accurate lifetime predictions in future. Investigations are based on type III breathing air cylinders consisting of an aluminium tank which is fully wrapped with carbon fibre reinforced plastics. Goal is to detect changes of residual stresses over life time which directly affect fatigue strength. Within this paper an approach is presented to monitor residual stresses via an experimental modal analysis (EMA). First, the influence of changed stress conditions on modal parameters is analysed via a numerical study. Secondly, a test bench for an EMA is set up. To be able to analyse cylinders of different prestress condition, several specimens are prestress modified via high-temperature and high-pressure treatment. During modification processes, specimens are monitored via optical fibres to control prestress modifications. Through experimental measurements of the modified specimens via EMA changes in prestressing can be detected. Finally, validity and accuracy of the EMA is evaluated critically by comparing all numerically and experimentally obtained data.
The presentation provides an overview about the understanding of fuel cladding failure mechanisms dominated by hydride embrittlement during long term dry storage. A currently launched research project focuses on the development of a fracture mechanics approach to describe brittle failure of fuel cladding during long term interim storage (BRUZL)“. Finally, the BAM contribution to the current European Joint Program (EJP) on radioactive waste management is illustrated.
This Presentation adresses the major needs and challenges of qualification processes for nuclear waste packages performed by BAM. Packages include those for high level radioactive waste like spent fuel as well as those for low and intermediate level waste to be disposed of in the Konrad repository.
Beginning with the current German nuclear waste management policy design testing capabilities and experience at BAM is explained followed by illustrating the major strategic process to identify future challenges including specific R&D needs.
Der Vortrag illustriert den Stand und die Herausforderungen im Rahmen der Behälter-Bauartprüfungen für das Endlager Konrad. Ausgehend von den Grundlagen der Bauartprüfung und die aktuelle Situation bei den Antragsverfahren werden die fachlichen Begutachtungsschwerpunkte sowie Maßnahmen zur Optimierung Prozess- und Verfahrenssteuerung erläutert.
Eine umfangreiche Darstellung der bisherigen Ergebnisse des ersten Arbeitspaketes im FuE-Vorhaben "KoBrA": Ziele und Anknüpfungspunkte des AP1; Ableitung von Kriterien und Kategorien; internationale Kernenergienutzung; Quellenbasis und Literaturrecherche; Selektion und Sortierung der Dokumentensammlung; Beispiele internationaler Endlagerprogramme
Der Vortrag vermittelt einen Überblick über internationale Forschungsaktivitäten im Hinblick auf zukünftig deutlich zu verlängernde Zwischenlagerzeiträume für bestrahlte Brennelemente. Ausgehend von der aktuellen Entsorgungssituation werden die relevanten Fragestellungen skizziert. Davon ausgehend werden die FuE-Aktivitäten der IAEA vorgestellt sowie die wichtigsten Themen beim Extended Storage Collaboration Program (ESCP) in den USA. Schließlich wird das "European Joint Programme on Radioactive Waste Management and Disposal“ kurz vorgestellt und werden die nationalen Initiativen auf diesem Sektor diskutiert.
Verbundvorhaben KoBrA: Ausblick zur Umsetzung von Anforderungen in Technische Behälterkonzepte
(2018)
Als Ausblick auf noch ausstehende Arbeiten zum Verbundvorhaben "KoBrA" zur Erfassung nationaler und internationaler Anforderungen und Konzepte für Behälter zur Endlagerung wärmeentwickelnder radioaktiver Abfälle in den potentiellen Wirtsgesteinformationen Kristallin, Ton und Salz werden die grundlegenden Anforderungen und Schutzziele der Endlagerbehälter untersucht und der konzeptionelle Weg von Anforderungen hin zu Konzepten erläutert.
The Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und –prüfung (BAM) runs an investigation program on the long-term behavior of multi-component metal seals. Such seals are used in a wide area of applications including transport and storage casks for spent nuclear fuel and high level radioactive waste. The seal function is mainly based on the compression of the inner helical spring, which generates the necessary seal force to keep the sealing surfaces in close contact. This in turn leads to a plastic deformation of the outer jacket of the seal, comprised of highly ductile aluminum or silver that adapts to the sealing surfaces of cask body and bolted lid, thus providing high level leak tightness. In Germany, those casks are licensed for interim storage periods of up to 40 years or more if extended interim storage would become necessary before a final repository is available. Thus, the sealing performance has to be evaluated, including factors like elevated temperature due to decay heat or mechanical loads due to transport under normal as well as accident conditions. Long-term investigations at BAM have been running over the last nine years to identify and evaluate the seal performance by measuring the remaining seal force, the useable resilience and the leakage rate after various time intervals at temperatures ranging from room temperature up to 150 °C. It was found that the seal force and useable resilience decrease with time and temperature, caused by creep deformation of the outer jacket. In order to obtain an analytical description for the seal behavior and to achieve more information on the material behavior under application conditions a comprehensive investigation program with focus on aluminum as outer jacket material was launched. The program includes material investigations such as compression and tension creep tests with representative basic materials. An additional test setup allows for the continuous measurement of the remaining seal force at temperatures of up to 150 °C. Furthermore, seal segments are compressed and stored in heating chambers, thus producing segments at different stages of the aging process. The segments are investigated regarding the development of the contact area width, jacket thickness and microstructural changes. This data will be used to develop material models and an analytical description of the time and temperature dependent long-term sealing behavior. This paper explains the current status of gained test results and modelling approaches and closes with an outlook to the future project plans.
Ongoing R&D work at BAM
(2018)
The presentation provides an update on the German nuclear waste management policy towards final disposal and related reasearch at BAM. Topics include long term investigations of metal seals, investigations of fuel cladding failure mechanisms, and the development of requirements and concepts for high level radioactive waste and spent fuel disposal containers.
Packages for the transport and storage of radioactive materials are often sealed with elastomer or metal seals. These seals are basic components to meet the leak tightness criteria for these kind of packages. An overview over ongoing research and development concerning metal and elastomer seals is given in the presentation. Introductions in the fundamental functionality of elastomer and metal seals are presented. Ageing processes are shown for both components regarding to different ageing effects.
Packages for the transport of spent nuclear fuel shall meet the International Atomic Energy Agency regulations to ensure safety under different Transport conditions. The physical state of spent fuel and the fuel rod cladding as well as the geometric configuration of fuel assemblies are important inputs for the evaluation of package capabilities under these conditions. Generally, the mechanical behavior of high burn-up spent fuel assemblies under Transport conditions shall be analyzed with regard to the assumptions which are used in the containment and criticality safety analysis. In view of the complexity of the interactions between the fuel rods as well as between the fuel assemblies, basket, and cask containment, the exact mechanical analysis of such phenomena is nearly impossible. The gaps in information concerning the material properties of cladding and pellet behavior, especially for the high burn-up fuel, make the analysis more complicated additionally. As a result, enveloping analytical approaches are usually used by BAM within the safety assessment of packages approved for transport of spent nuclear fuel.
To justify the safety margins of such approaches additional analyses are necessary. In this paper, numerical simulations of a segment of a spent fuel assembly are presented. The segment modeled represents the part of a generalized BWR fuel assembly between two spacers. Explicit dynamic finite element calculations are performed to simulate the spent fuel behavior under regulatory defined accident conditions of transport. A beam element formulation is used for the modeling of the fuel rods representing the compound consisting of claddings and fuel pellets. The load applied is gathered from experimental drop tests with spent fuel casks performed at BAM. A hot cell bending test performed at JRC Karlsruhe is the basis for obtaining the material behavior of the fuel rods. The material properties are determined by
simulating the test setup of JRC and optimizing the results to fit the
experimental load deflection curve. The simulations of the fuel Assembly segment are used to get a better understanding about the loads on fuel rods under accident conditions of transport.
The characterization of spent fuel and radioactive waste is essential in the evaluation of the ability of these materials to meet acceptance criteria. Prior to determining a method for spent fuel characterization, it is necessary to identify the type of data required to support safety and other analyses for the storage, transportation and final disposal of spent fuel. BAM’s understanding and capabilities in the field of spent fuel characterization are presented for the scope of a coordinated research project on the topic.
Embrittlement of spent fuel claddings during long-term dry interim storage - Current approach at BAM
(2019)
The integrity of fuel rods and cladding tubes must be demonstrated throughout the dry interim storage of spent nuclear fuel in Germany. For at least a relevant number of casks, an extension of interim storage between 40 and 100 years is foreseeable. The drying procedure for the fuel rods in conjunction with the thermomechanical storage conditions may change the microstructure of the cladding tubes and lead to their possible embrittlement. The failure probability might increase under mechanical load by handling procedures (transport after storage) on potentially embrittled cladding tubes of fuel rods especially at low temperatures after long-term storage. Results of ring compression tests on unirradiated pre-hydrided as well as irradiated samples with radial hydrides are investigated by finite element analyses to be able to describe the failure process and to identify failure criteria.
In order to demonstrate the safety of both spent fuel and the storage system, a good understanding of the processes that might cause deterioration is required. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) continued the coordinated research on Spent Fuel Performance Assessment and Research (SPAR) into a fourth phase starting in 2015 to evaluate fuel and materials performance under wet and dry storage and to assess the impact of interim storage on associated spent fuel management activities (such as handling and transport). BAM’s understanding and experiences in the field of long-term storage of spent fuel and especially spent fuel characterization are presented to assist the preparation of the final project report.
Compatibility of polymeric materials with heating oil/biodiesel blends at different temperatures
(2019)
Materials compatibility is a major concern whenever the fuel composition is changed. The question arises of whether polymeric materials are resistant to heating oil with admixtures of 10 % biodiesel (B10) and 20 % biodiesel (B20).
The polarity of biodiesel increases its solvency and facilitates permeation and extrac-tion. Solvation, swelling and/or extraction lead to changes in the physical properties and chemical changes of polymeric materials.
The objective of this research was to determine the resistance of frequently used sealing materials such as FKM, EPDM, CR, CSM, NBR, IIR, VMQ, FVMQ, PA and PUR in up to four-year aged B10 for 84 days at 20 °C, 40 °C and 70 °C.
The polymeric materials: ACM, FKM, HNBR, PA, PE; POM, PUR and PVC were ex-posed to B20 for 84 days at 40°C and 70°C in another research project.
Mass, tensile strength, breaking elongation and Shore hardness A (D) of the test specimens were determined before and after the exposure for 84 (42) days in the heating oil blends B10 and B20.
There is not determined a threshold for the reduction in tensile properties and Shore hardness in the international standards. Therefore, a threshold of 15 % was deter-mined for the evaluation of the compatibility.
Measurements of the variations in mass, tensile properties and Shore hardness after exposure of the polymers in non-aged and aged heating oil B10 showed clearly that FKM, FVMQ and PA were the most resistant materials in B10. The elastomers CR, CSM, EPDM, IIR, NBR and VMQ were generally not resistant to B10. Damage to the materials increased with higher test temperatures and the age of B10.
FKM, POM and PVC showed high compatibility in B20 at 40°C and 70 °C. ACM, HNBR and PA were evaluated as resistant in B20 at 40 °C but not at 70°C.
An analysis has been presented pertaining to the use of a convex
bottom tank shape instead of an elliptical, for a road tanker.
Two analyses have been made, concerning the static and the dynamic
relative performance expectations of such tank shape when compared
with the elliptical shape performance.
The outputs of both analyses suggest that the level of average benefit
due to using the proposed shape, is around 10%, with a maximum
benefit observed in the dynamic performance in the case of the
minimum fill level.
Correlation between static and dynamic outputs. Manufacturing.
Longitudinal Load transfer light sensitivity to cargo type, fill level and the impact distance.
Maximum sloshing effect for the case of the lowest fill level 12
while for half fill level the sloshing cargo performs as a dynamic damper, with a maximum effect of 6 in the case of medium impact input
The sloshing effect for the highest fill level yielded a mixed output, with the maximum impact distance producing a positive but moderate effect.
This presentation describes the testing methods used to determine the thermal properties of insulation materials and mechanical properties of materials used for the load-bearing structure for pressure tanks (up to 4 bar) and cryogenic liquids (LNG, -162 °C at atmospheric pressure). Goal is to design a transportation tank that does not exceed 4 bars (relative) within 10 h, starting at atmospheric pressure. PUR-foam is a suitable material for the insulation. A 12,5 l small scale tank prototype reached 4 bar (relative) within 87 minutes, which is, regarding the influence of the size, a satisfying result. The mechanical properties change significantly at cryogenic temperatures. The bending modulus is similar at first, but decreases at a certain point by 2/3. However, the maximum stress is much higher and could not be reached within this testing setup.