The Effect of Gap Size and g-Loading from Real Transportation Accidents On the Response of Closure Lid Bolts

After a spent fuel transportation package is loaded, a gap will exist between the package contents and the bolted closure lid. When the package is rotated from a vertical position to a horizontal position and attached to the conveyance in preparation for transport the gap between the contents and lid will be aligned with the direction of transport.During transport different accident scenarios could impose g-loads (deceleration loads) on the package while it is restrained by the restraint system that attaches the package to the conveyance. Even if the g-loads from an accident remain within the capacity limits of the restraint system, the presence of a gap between the package contents and closure lid mayresult in an impact of the contents onto the closure lid that could impose potentially large loads on the closure lid bolts. For certain combinations of g-loading and gap size the response could exceed the response of the hypothetical accident condition (HAC) 30 foot drop with a zero gap.This paper explores the relationship between the gap size and the g-loading that produces the same stress level in all the closure lid bolts as would have been produced in the HAC regulatory drop test with a zero gap.