The Development of an Enhanced Strain Measurement Device to Support Testing of Radioactive Material Packages*

Radioactive material package designers use structural testing to verify and demonstrate package performance. A major part of evaluating structural response is the collection of reliable instrumentation measurement data. Over the last four decades, Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) has been actively involved in the development, testing, and evaluation of measurement devices for a broad range of applications, resulting in the commercialization of several measurement devices commonly used today. SNL maintains an ongoing program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop and evaluate measurement devices to support testing of packages used to transport radioactive or hazardous materials. The development of the enhanced strain measurement device is part of this program. Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 71 (NRC 1994) allows package designers the option of using analysis, testing, or a combination of analysis and testing to support the certification of radioactive or hazardous material packages. In recent years, many packages have been certified by DOE or the NRC through a combination of analysis and testing. Testing facilities simulate the normal or accident environments defined in the regulations and provide response measurements. Data collected from testing of radioactive or hazardous material packages can be used directly to support package certification or, in the case of the analysis and testing certification option, can be used to verify the assumptions used to analyze the package. For certain package designs, package testing can be an economical alternative to complex analysis for the resolution of regulatory questions or concerns. The ability to provide reliable response measurements is an essential element in the certification process.