Zur Untersuchung der Sicherheit von Behältern für den Transport und die Lagerung von Gefahrstoffen und -gütern werden Fallprüfungen durchgeführt. Die Aufpralldynamik und die strukturmechanischen Einwirkungen auf den Behälter werden mittels Beschleunigungsaufnehmern und Dehnungsmessstreifen erfasst. Dabei kommen derzeit Vielkanalmesssysteme zum Einsatz, die eine Verkabelung jeder einzelnen Messstelle und somit das Mitfallen eines Kabelbaums erfordern, wodurch Probleme bei der Versuchsvorbereitung und Durchführung entstehen. Die Verwendung eines Messsystems mit Datenbus und dezentraler Datenspeicherung bietet diesbezüglich einen vielversprechenden Lösungsansatz.
BAM is the German Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing and the competent authority for mechanical and thermal safety assessment of transport packages for spent fuel and high level waste. In context with safety assessment of RAM packages BAM performed numerous drop tests in the last decades. The tests were mostly accompanied by extensive and various measurement techniques especially by instrumented measurements with strain gages and accelerometers. The procedure of drop testing and the resulting measurement analysis are the main methods to evaluate the safety against mechanical test conditions. Measurement techniques are dedicated to answer questions in regard to the structural integrity of a RAM package, the mechanical behavior of the prototype as well as of its content under impact conditions.
Test results like deceleration-time functions constitute a main basis for the validation of assumptions in the safety analysis and for the evaluation of numerical calculations. In this context the adequate selection of accelerometers and measurement systems for the performance of drop tests is important. Therefore it is not only necessary to find suitable positions for the accelerometers at the test specimens, but also to consider technical boundary conditions as e.g. temperature.
Piezoresistive accelerometers use a strain-sensing element, generally made of semiconductor material, e.g., silicon to convert the mechanical motion into an electrical signal. This element is usually designed in form of a cantilever beam loaded with a mass. Acceleration causes bending of the beam, which produces a change of electrical resistance proportional to the applied acceleration.
Main advantages of piezoresistive accelerometers in comparison to other types, e.g., piezoelectric and capacitive, is their robust and highly dynamic behavior, which qualifies them for application in high impact shock applications. Mechanical damping is typically implemented with silicon oil in a way that the output signal is undistorted over a wide frequency range. These characteristics principally qualify them for the application in drop tests carried out at BAM, for which they are calibrated over the frequency range from 1 to 4 kHz. However, using silicon oil for damping, has the drawback of temperature dependent change of its viscosity, leading to temperature dependent deviation of the accelerometer’s sensitivity.
This study presents experimental results of the temperature behavior of a piezoresistive accelerometer with a dynamic range up to ±5000 g.
This type of accelerometer is applied for drop tests which are partially performed at temperatures of -40 or +100 °C.
Multichannel measuring systems are used to measure strains and accelerations during drop tests of containments for dangerous goods. Conventional systems require cabling of each sensor and co-falling of the cable harness, causing problems in the test preparation and execution. Promising results of a single cable measuring system, consisting of measuring modules with data bus connection and local data acquisition were presented in a previous study. This paper follows up with results from laboratory and full-scale testing of an further enhanced single cable system for the application in drop tests.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vielkanalmesssysteme werden zur Messung von Dehnungen und Beschleunigungen bei Fallversuchen von Gefahrstoffbehältern eingesetzt. Konventionelle Systeme erfordern die Verkabelung jeder einzelnen Messstelle und somit das Mitfallen eines Kabelbaums, wodurch Probleme bei der Versuchsvorbereitung und Durchführung entstehen. In einer vorangegangenen Studie wurden vielversprechende Ergebnisse durch Verwendung eines 1-Kabelmesssystems mit Datenbus und dezentraler Datenspeicherung erzielt. Dieser Artikel beinhaltet weiterführende Ergebnisse aus Labor- und Realversuchen mit einem weiterentwickelten System zur Anwendung bei Fallversuchen.
Multichannel measuring systems are used to measure strains and accelerations during drop tests of containments for dangerous goods. Conventional systems require cabling of each sensor and co-falling of the cable harness, causing problems in the test preparation and execution. Promising results of a single cable measuring system, consisting of measuring modules with data bus connection and local data acquisition were obtained in laboratory investigations and full-scale drop tests.
Strain and acceleration measurement during high dynamic drop tests, e.g., of containments for dangerous goods is performed using high speed multichannel measuring systems. So far established and operated systems need a cable connection of every strain gauge and acceleration sensor with the measuring device, often counting up to a number of more than 100 cables, corresponding to the number of applied sensors. The result is a massive cable harness consisting of all single cables, which is difficult to handle and causes a number of practical problems. An innovative approach is proposed by using a single cable measuring system, consisting of measuring modules with data bus connection and local data acquisition. Promising results were presented in a previous study. This paper follows up with additional results from full-scale testing of a further enhanced single cable system for the application in drop tests.
This study presents the characterization of a piezoresistive accelerometer damped with silicon oil for the application in drop tests carried out at BAM. Experiments were performed with the Hopkinson Bar method in close correlation to the real-world application conditions. The results point out certain limitations regarding the temperature influence and the frequency response. Additional experiments were performed with a gas damped type of piezoresistive accelerometer, which has superior specifications, particularly for low temperatures. The results allow for a comparison.
Temperature characteristics of a piezoresistive accelerometer for high impact shock application
(2018)
This study presents the characterization of a piezoresistive accelerometer damped with silicon oil for the application in drop tests carried out at BAM. Experiments were performed with the Hopkinson Bar method in close correlation to the real-world application conditions. The results point out certain limitations regarding the temperature influence and the frequency response. Additional experiments were performed with a gas damped type of piezoresistive accelerometer, which has superior specifications, particularly for low temperatures. The results allow for a comparison.
Temperature characteristics of a piezoresistive accelerometer for high impact shock application
(2018)
This study presents the characterization of a piezoresistive accelerometer damped with silicon oil for the application in drop tests carried out at BAM. Experiments were performed with the Hopkinson Bar method in close correlation to the real-world application conditions. The results point out certain limitations regarding the temperature influence and the frequency response. Additional experiments were performed with a gas damped type of piezoresistive accelerometer, which has superior specifications, particularly for low temperatures. The results allow for a comparison.