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Organisationseinheit der BAM
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne) and the German Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) was signed in October 2014. Its objectives are to promote cooperation among scientists and specialists at Argonne and BAM and establish a framework for collaboration in advanced technologies associated with the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle. Collaborative activities involving Argonne and BAM may be implemented through the promotion of joint research activities and scientific workshops and conferences; exchange of technical information; and visits by scientists, specialists, and graduate, postgraduate, and Ph.D. students. The MOU was renewed in January 2020 for another five years. Highlights of the progress and achievements are provided in identified topical areas for collaboration on ageing management guidance, storage, transportation and disposal R&D, joint conference activities, and conclude with the benefits of the MOU in fostering Argonne and BAM collaboration.
Testing and numerical simulation of elastomeric seals under consideration of time dependent effects
(2016)
Due to delays in the siting procedure to establish a deep geological repository for spent nuclear fuel and high level waste and in construction of the already licensed Konrad repository for low and intermediate level waste, extended periods of interim storage will become more relevant in Germany. BAM is involved in most of the cask licensing procedures and is responsible for the evaluation of cask-related long-term safety issues. Elastomeric seals are widely used as barrier seals for containers for low and intermediate level radioactive waste. In addition they are also used as auxiliary seals in spent fuel storage and transportation casks (dual purpose casks (DPC)).
To address the complex requirements resulting from the described applications, BAM has initiated several test programs for investigating the behavior of elastomeric seals. These include experiments concerning the hyperelastic and viscoelastic behavior at different temperatures and strain rates, the low temperature performance down to -40°C, the influence of gamma irradiation and the aging behavior.
The first part of the paper gives an overview of these tests, their relevant results and their possible impact on BAM’s work as a consultant in the framework of approval and licensing procedures.
The second part presents an approach of the development of a finite element model using the finite element code ABAQUS®. The long-term goal is to simulate the complex elastomeric behavior in a complete lid closure system under specific operation and accident conditions.
Rubbers are widely used as main sealing materials for containers for low and intermediate level radioactive waste and as additional component to metal seals in spent fuel and high active waste containers. According to appropriate guidelines and regulations safe enclosure of the radioactive container contents has to be guaranteed for long storage periods as well as down to temperatures of -40 °C for transportation. Therefore the understanding of seal behavior is of high importance.
In this paper we focus on the behavior of elastomer seals at low temperatures with regard to poten-tial decrease of leak-tightness. In addition, changes in material properties due to aging effects over long periods of time and their influence on the seal performance is investigated.
It is known that material properties of rubbers are strongly temperature dependent. At low tempera-tures this is caused by the rubber-glass transition (abbr. glass transition). During continuous cool-ing, the material changes from rubber-like entropy-elastic to stiff energy-elastic behavior, that al-lows nearly no strain or retraction due to the glass transition. Hence rubbers are normally used above their glass transition but the minimum working temperature limit is not defined precisely.
Aging of elastomer seals is important, as possible dynamic loads may have to be considered during the whole interim storage period (so far approved in Germany for up to 40 years) and for transporta-tion after storage.
For the investigations, fluorocarbon (FKM) and ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) rubbers were selected as they are often used in radioactive waste containers. Some materials were purchased from a commercial seal producer and some materials were compounded and cured at BAM. The elastom-ers where studied by several thermo-analytical methods and compression set to characterize the material behavior at low temperatures. Additionally component tests were performed to determine the breakdown temperature of the sealing function of complete elastomer O-rings.
It is important to evaluate the effect of thermal ageing on the sealing performance of metal gaskets under high temperature for long-term usage. Therefore, in order to gain representative data for this kind of metal-sealed lid System, BAM is currently performing laboratory tests of different gasket types with aluminum and silver jackets at three different temperatures under static conditions up to four years so far, using test flanges for gaskets with full scale cross section diameter but much smaller outer diameter. On the other hand, in order to investigate the applicability of the numerical methodology to evaluate the long-term behavior of the metal gaskets, such as a correlation between seal pressure force and holding time, CRIEPI is developing a modeling method including material tests (tensile and creep tests) at high temperature. In this paper, the applicability of the finite element method (ABAQUS) to predict the recovery displacement and residual seal pressure force of the gasket complex was verified by comparing the calculated values with BAM’s laboratory test results under the joint research agreement between BAM and CRIEPI.
Rubbers are widely used as main sealing materials for containers for low and intermediate level radioactive waste and as additional component to metal seals in spent fuel and high active waste containers. The save encapsulation of the radioactive container inventory has to be guaranteed according to legislation and appropriate guidelines for long term storage periods as well as down to temperatures of -40 °C during transport.
Therefore the understanding of failure mechanisms that lead to leakage at low temperatures is of high importance.
It is known that the material properties of rubbers are strongly temperature dependent. At low temperatures this is caused by the rubber-glass transition (abbr. glass transition). During continuous cooling the material changes from rubber-like entropy-elastic to stiff energy-elastic behaviour, that allows nearly no strain or retraction, due to the glass transition. Hence rubbers are normally used above their glass transition but the minimum working temperature limit is not defined precisely, what can cause problems during application. Therefore the lower operation temperature limit of rubber seals should be determined in dependence of the material properties.
The results of Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) are combined with the results of standardized measurements as the compression set according to ISO 815. To reduce the test time of the standard tests a faster technique was developed.
Additionally, the breakdown temperature of the sealing function of complete O-ring seals is measured in a component test setup to compare it with the results of the other tests. The experimental setup is capable of measuring the leakage rate at low temperatures by the pressure rise method.
A fluorocarbon rubber (FKM) was selected for this investigation as it is often used for radioactive waste containers. Some materials (seals and test sheets) were purchased from a commercial seal producer and some materials were compounded and cured at BAM in form of rubber sheets.
Elastomers are widely used as the main sealing materials for containers for low and intermediate level radioactive waste and as an additional component to metal seals in spent fuel and high active waste containers. The safe encapsulation of the radioactive container inventory has to be guaranteed according to regulation and appropriate guidelines for long term storage periods as well as for temperatures as low as -40°C during transport. Therefore, the understanding of failure mechanisms that lead to leakage at low temperatures is of high importance. It is known that the material properties of elastomers are strongly temperature dependent. At low temperatures, this is caused by the rubber-glass transition (abbreviated: glass transition). During continuous cooling, the material changes from a rubber-like entropy elastic to a stiff energy elastic behaviour, which allows nearly no strain or retraction. Hence, rubbers are normally used above their glass transition, but the minimum working temperature limit is not defined precisely; this can cause problems during the above noted applications. Therefore, the lower operation temperature limit of elastomer seals must be determined in dependence of the material properties. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) are combined with standardised measurements to determine the compression set according to ISO 815. To reduce the test time of the standard tests, a faster technique than normally used was developed. Additionally, the breakdown temperature of the sealing function of complete O ring seals was measured in a component test set-up to compare it with the results of the other tests. The experimental set-up is capable of measuring the leakage rate at low temperatures by the pressure rise method. A fluorocarbon rubber (FKM) was selected for this investigation as it is often used for radioactive waste containers. The materials (seals and test sheets) were purchased from a commercial seal producer.
Due to delays in the site-selection procedure to establish a deep geological repository for spent nuclear fuel and high level waste and in construction of the already licensed Konrad-repository for low and intermediate level waste without heat generation, extended periods of interim storage become more relevant in Germany. BAM is involved in most of the cask licensing procedures and especially responsible for the evaluation of cask-related long-term safety issues.
The long-term performance of elastomer seals for lid Systems of transport and storage casks whether used as auxiliary seals in spent fuel caslcs or as primary seals for low and intermediate level waste packages is an important issue in this context (Jaunich, 2013; Jaunich, 2014; Kömmling, 2015). The polymeric structure of these seals causes a complex mechanical behaviour with time-dependent elasticity reduction and loss of elastic recovery.
The paper presents first results of a comprehensive test Programme consisting of several static and dynamic mechanical short- and long-term tests which have been carried out at BAM on specimens made of representative types of elastomers, fluorocarbon rubber (FKM) and ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM). The investigation of the test results used to identify material models and their Parameters as well as the development of two finite element models for the numerical Simulation of tension and compression tests using the finite element code ABAQUS® are described. The calculation results are presented in comparison to the test results. The influence of important material and test parameters was investigated and discussed in sensitivity analyses.
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.
Component and material investigations on metal seals for high level radioactive waste containers
(2018)
Long-term investigations performed at BAM look to extend the state of knowledge on safety-related components of interim storage containers. Metal seals act as the primary sealing barrier in the bolted double lid closure system of the containers. The behaviour of metal seals has been investigated for ageing times up to 8.5 years and for various temperatures. The main cause for reduction in useable resilience overtime was due to creep deformation of the outer jacket of the seal.
The investigation of the long-term performance of sealing systems employed in containers for radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel is one research focus area for division 3.4 “Safety of Storage Containers” at the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM). Our investigations comprise investigations on metallic and elastomeric seals and covers experimental investigations to get a database on the component/material behaviour, work on analytical descriptions and numerical analysis. Our aim is to understand the long-term behaviour of the sealing systems for evaluation of their performance during possible extended interim storage and subsequent transportation.