Critical Safety of Confinement Containers Subject to Worst Case Seismic and Fire Scenario

Extreme events, such as an earthquake, can subject containers to multiple hazards before interventions can occur. To evaluate the effects of the potential hazards, damage was inflicted on containers replicating a realistic worst-case seismic/fire scenario at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Four types (SAVY, Hagan, K-flange, and ROCK) of three-quart containers with payload were subject to an impact of 3.66 m (12 ft.) freefall drop (Hagan subject to 2.74m (9ft.) drop) and then 5000C (9320F) furnace testing for 45 minutes. Drop testing evaluated four impact orientations for each container of one type, and repeated these orientations among the different container types. At each stage (as-delivered, post-drop, and post-furnace), a static water column tested ingress potential by change in mass to sealed containers. The first, and most stringent, was a baseline 61cm (24 in.) water column for a period of one week on the as-delivered containers. The second was a 15 cm (6 in.) water column for a period of two hours on the containers post-drop and post-furnace. Under the more severe criteria for as-delivered containers, the water ingress measured: SAVY 7 to14 g; Hagan 168 to 493 g; K-flange 4 to 5 g; and ROCK 24 to 280 g of water ingress. Under the less severe criteria and post-drop testing, the water ingress measured: SAVY 2.0 to 3.9 g; Hagan 1.7 to 38 g; K-flange 2.7 to 3.6 g; and ROCK 36 to 1,369 g of water ingress. Finally, after furnace testing (5000C, 45 minutes), which destroyed the o-ring and gasket materials, and under the same 15 cm, 2 hr. water column test, the water ingress measured: SAVY 2.0 to 479 g; Hagan 71 to 2,048 g (completely filled); K-flange 36 to 94 g; and ROCK 44 to 407 g of water ingress. From these results, furnace testing produced a much more significant risk of water ingress to containers than impact. These results can be used to guide the selection of nuclear material confinement containers at other facilities where extreme seismic and/or fire scenarios must be accounted for.