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HyperWorks in the Design, Development & Testing of Nuclear Encapsulation Vessels: A Case Study
Technology Category
- Analytics & Modeling - Digital Twin / Simulation
- Sensors - Haptic Sensors
Applicable Industries
- Aerospace
- Transportation
Applicable Functions
- Product Research & Development
- Quality Assurance
Use Cases
- Transportation Simulation
- Virtual Prototyping & Product Testing
Services
- Testing & Certification
The Challenge
Assystem UK Ltd, an international engineering and innovation consultancy group, was tasked with the design, simulation, prototyping, and verification testing of an encapsulation vessel for a customer in the nuclear industry. The challenge was to create an overpack, a protective barrier for product cans, that could withstand dynamic loading, such as being dropped during transit or falling to the ground in storage. The design had to endure drop heights of 3.5m (during transportation within the plant) and 1.5m (within the storage facility), with impact onto either a flat surface or an angled target. Additionally, due to the potential for internal pressurisation from gases inside the product can, the assembly had to be designed as a pressure vessel according to the rules of PD5500 and demonstrate a design life of 10 years.
About The Customer
Assystem is an international engineering and innovation consultancy group with a presence in 14 countries and 8500 employees. With main offices in Bristol, Derby, Preston, and Sunderland, UK, they are supported by 1400 staff delivering key capabilities in a wide array of industries, from Aerospace and Energy (including nuclear power) to Defence and Transport. As a leading European independent nuclear engineering specialist, Assystem is involved throughout the cycle, from fuel production to reprocessing to the design, commissioning, and decommissioning of nuclear installations.
The Solution
Assystem utilized the HyperWorks tools - HyperMesh, HyperView, RADIOSS, and HyperStudy - to design and develop the overpack. HyperMesh was used to mesh the design of the overpack components, which were then analyzed using RADIOSS. The RADIOSS solver was also crucial in simulating the pressurisation of the overpack at the moment of impact. Various drop scenarios of pressurised and non-pressurised overpacks were simulated to establish the worst-case impact orientations. A Design of Experiments approach was used with HyperStudy to rapidly generate, run, and post-process the impact scenarios. The results from each drop simulation were reviewed, and a small number of design iterations took place to refine the design, ensuring that it complied with PD5500.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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