Publications

Publications

Revised Conceptual Designs for the FMDP MOX Fresh Fuel Transport Package

This report details the revised conceptual designs for a MOX fresh fuel transport package, highlighting the crucial role of finite element analysis (FEA) in the design and certification process. The document outlines how FEA is used to test the structural integrity of the packages under both normal and hypothetical accident conditions, ensuring nuclear and physical safety.

Design Evaluation of a Large Concrete Cask to Meet IP-2 Requirements

This paper evaluates a large concrete cask's design to meet IP-2 transportation safety standards. It demonstrates how finite element analysis (FEA) was used to simulate drop tests, which informed the design of a lid-retaining device and predicted the structural response, thereby helping to confirm the package's safety without relying solely on expensive physical testing.

Fatigue Crack Modeling in Bridge Deck Conncection Details

Robert K. Paasch and Anthony H. DePiero

This paper outlines a research project aimed at creating a predictive model for fatigue crack in bridge deck connection details using finite element analysis (FEA). It demonstrates how various FEA models were developed and used to analyze loading conditions, stress ranges, and ultimately, estimate the remaining fatigue life of bridge components.

Validation of a Computer Code for Use in the Mechanical Design of Spallation Neutron Targets

Paul A. Montanez and Peter Sievers

This paper validates the LS-DYNA finite element code for use in designing spallation neutron targets by comparing its results to an analytic solution for a simplified model. It demonstrates the code's ability to accurately predict stress waves under thermal loading, confirming its reliability for more complex, nonlinear simulations.

Special Projects: Math & Computational Sciences Division

National Institute of Standards and Technology

This paper details a methodology for translating finite element analysis (FEA) files from the linear elastic software SAP2000 into more advanced nonlinear codes like ANSYS and LS-DYNA. The work was a critical part of the NIST investigation into the World Trade Center collapse, demonstrating the importance of advanced FEA capabilities for simulating complex structural failures.