Response of a concrete container at different drop orientations Original Research Article

Impact analyses of a nuclear waste dry storage container to simulate an accidental drop onto an unyielding surface have been carried out for three different drop orientations; namely (1) C.G. directly above the initial impact point, (2) 5° tilted vertical drop and (3) 5° tilted horizontal corner edge drop. The finite element technique is employed using MSC/PATRAN for pre- and post-processing while the analyses are carried out using the hydrodynamic code DYNA3D. Responses in terms of energy, momentum, contact force, stresses, strains and deformation during and after impact are closely examined and compared. It is found that, with impact limiters for protection, the container can survive the drop impact; however, local responses are different at different drop orientations.