Extended testing of plutonium shipping containers

BAM has made investigations on the behavior of plutonium shipping containers exposed to testing criteria which lie beyond type B requirements as given by the 1973 IAEA regulations. These tests were performed to evaluate the margins of safety of these types of light packagings. Shipping containers for the transport of plutonium nitrate solutions and plutonium dioxide, circulating in the Federal Republic of Germany, had to pass different extended testings which came from given requirements as well as covering additional severe accident conditions which could become dangerous for these light packagings' constructions. The tests performed up to now were: an impact test from a height from which the packaging could reach its free fall speed (normally 200 m), an open fire test for at least 75 minutes (THETA/sub m/ = 1173K), a punch test from a height of 2 m (= doubling the drop height) as extension of 1973 IAEA requirements and a crush test with a 2000 kg load from 9 m onto the packaging. BAM intends to perform a ripping test to simulate the ripping of thin wall constructions caused by sharp-edged obstacles and a 9 m drop test where the packaging is cooled down to 233K. Test results show, that there are still more or less sufficient margins of safety for these types of packagings. Constructive improvements for the packagings' components such as foam-like insulations having good energy absorption and thermal behavior, a rigid inner tube and a high-grade steel containment for the plutonium compounds will lead to one type of packaging which can satisfactorily survive most severe accident stresses