Development of Inelastic Analysis Acceptance Criteria for Radioactive Material Transportation Packages

The response of radioactive material transportation packages to mechanical accident loadings can be more accurately characterized by nonlinear dynamic analysis than by the \"equivalent dynamic\" static elastic analysis typically used in the design of these packages. This more accurate characterization of the response can lead to improved package safety and design efficiency. For nonlinear dynamic analysis to become the preferred method of package design analysis, an acceptance criterion must be established that achieves an equivalent level of safety as the currently used criterion defined in NRC Regulatory Guide 7.6 (NRC 1978). Sandia National Laboratories has been conducting a study of possible acceptance criteria to meet this requirement. In this paper nonlinear dynamic analysis acceptance criteria based on stress, strain, and strain-energy-density will be discussed. An example package design will be compared for each of the design criteria, including the approach of NRC Regulatory Guide 7 .6.