Analysis of the Forces on a Nuclear Fuel Transport Flask in an Impact by a Train

The majority of fuel transport flask movements is on the public rail network and there has been concern over the possible consequences in the unlikely event of an accident involving a flask. To allay these concerns the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) embarked on a programme of research into the behaviour of flasks in accidents culminating in the public demonstration of a train imapct in July 1984.

The train crash demonstration was preceded by extensive analytical work directed at estimating the forces, effects and resulting motions of the primary impact. The mathematical modelling and analyses are described, with an earlier study of a high-speed train (HST) impact, and subsequent comparisons between the predictive estimates and the results of the demonstration. The impact effects expected and found are given in detail, with conclusions on the success of the estimating work and the relative severity of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) 9 m drop test compared with the train crash.