Experimental drop tests in the frame of the component testing of transport casks for radioactive materials

The Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM) is the responsible German authority for component testing of packaging containers for radioactive materials in the frame of the licensing process. The tests are performed according to the national and international legal regulations for the transport of radioactive materials. This includes the evaluation of the mechanical and thermal behavior under defined testing conditions and the radionuclide release in case of severe accidents. The most important test concerning the accident resistance is the experimental drop tests from 9 m height on a firm base plate and from 1 m height on a steel mandrel. The tested sample was a 1:2 model cask CASTOR registered HAW/Tb2 of the original type CASTOR registered HAW28M. The tests were performed at the BAM test ground in Hortswalde. The documented test results will be part of the safety analysis in the frame of the licensing process for the transport and storage cask.