Designing Shock Absorbers for Nuclear Transport Packages

Across the world, radioactive sources are used for a variety of applications. From X-rays and radiotherapy in hospitals, to generation of heat in a nuclear power station. All these sources, however small or large, need to be transported to the point of use and away from there for eventual disposal or recycling. It is more often the case that when the sources are transported to the site, before use, they are not particularly radioactive, but after use they can pose a serious health hazard if not handled correctly. Special, specifically designed transport packages are manufactured and tested to ensure they meet the regulatory requirements for the transport of radioactive materials [1]. Part of the regulatory requirements is that the package withstands a 9m drop on to an unyielding target without loss of containment. The external shock absorbers of a transport package are designed to absorb the energy from this impact, as well as provide other functions not covered in this paper. This paper looks at methods to assist in the designing of these shock absorbers and how LSDYNA can be instrumental in the design and testing phase.