STOWING OF PACKAGES OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS FOR LAND TRANSPORTATION. THIRD PHASE

Phase 3 of the study is mainly experimental and is based on the work performed during 2 former studies - phase 1: definition and analysis of reference accidental conditions, and phase 2: selection of some reference accidents and computation of the deceleration forces. The main goal of the study is to draw up a reference document, giving guidance for the stowing of packages on conveyances for land transportation. Four frontal impact tests were performed. The first used a truck, loaded with two French IL-37 containers and launched at a speed of 50 km/h against a fixed obstacle. The second test was performed in the same impact conditions but with a wagon instead of a truck, and loaded with one container. The front of the wagon was equipped with special shock absorbers to obtain the same deceleration as recorded during the truck impact Test 1. In the third test the stowing systems, used in Tests 1 and 2, were reinforced by a nylon one in order to obtain information of stowing systems of that type and to increase the energy absorption capacity. In the fourth test, in addition to being stowed as in Test 2, the package was also chocked. This series of test programs on stowing is intended to: define the acceptable upper and lower limits of stowing system and chock behavior; connect the package tests with real road transport energies; prepare a code of good stowing practice. The results obtained during the third phase are described.