Radiant Heat Testing of the H1224A Shipping/Storage Container
Abstract
H1224A weapons containers have been used for years by the Departments of Energy and Defense to transport and store W78 warhead midsections. Although designed to protect the midsections only from low-energy impacts, a recent transportation risk assessment effort has identified a need to evaluate the container's ability to protect weapons in more severe accident environments. Four radiant heat tests were performed: two each on an H1224A container (with a Mk12a Mod 6c mass mock-up midsection inside) and two on a low-cost simulated H1224A container (with a hollow Mkl2 aeroshell midsections inside). For each unit tested, temperatures were recorded at numerous points throughout the container and midsection during a 4-hour 121 deg C (250 deg F) and 30-minute 1010 deg C (1850 deg F) radiant environment. Measured peak temperatures experienced by the inner walls of the midsections as a result of exposure to the high-temperature radiant environment ranged from 650 deg C to 980 deg C (1200 deg F to 1800 deg F) for the H1224A container and 770 deg C to 990 deg C (1420 deg F to 1810 deg F) for the simulated container. The majority of both containers were completely destroyed during the high-temperature test. Temperature profiles will be used to benchmark analytical models and predict warhead midsection temperatures over a wide range of the thermal accident conditions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA279916
Entities
People
- D. C. Harding
- D. R. Stenberg
- J. G. Bobbe
- M. Arviso
Organizations
- Sandia National Laboratories