The mechanical requirements for, and design of, canisters and overpacks for the disposal of high level radioactive waste

This paper is a report on Phase 1 of a study on the mechanical requirements for, and design of, canisters and overpacks for the disposal of high level radioactive waste. For Phase 1 a report was urgently required to advise the Department of the Environment on the mechanical requirements and essential design features of the canisters to ensure that disposal options would not be pre-empted by the proposed methods of fabrication of the canisters, prior to the selection of the preferred options; and to outline tests recommended for the performance assessment of prototype canisters in relation to canister design and manufacturing requirements. In the absence of specific proposals for the design of the canister it was not possible within the time available for this project to consider in detail the ways in which the disposal requirements might be met. The report therefore concentrates on identifying the essential design requirements which are applicable to any design of canister. Some examples are given of ways in which the disposal requirements may be met. These are not intended to be recommendations but they do indicate ways in which it is possible to meet the disposal requirements. (author)