Abstract: A model container is designed to transport and store radio-therapeutic sealed sources with 1,141 mm×1,206 mm dimension and about 3,600 kg in mass. The container belongs to type B package when being loaded maximum activity up to 444 TBq (12,000 Ci)for ⁶⁰Co. The package should be tested subject to the free drop test I (i.e. impact test) according to GB 11806 and SSR-6, which is one of test items for demonstrating its ability to withstand accident conditions of transport. The ANSYS/LS-DYNA code based on finite element method is used to analyze stress and deformation during impact. Under top corner impact condition, the results show that there is larger stress at the impacted position about 200 mm×200 mm square with 45.9 mm maximum deformation and two bolts may be ruptured. Stress on the outer shell of the outer container was measured during the test and the deformation of the container was measured after the test. The results show consistency between calculation and test, which verifies that finite elements method can be used to well predict the stress and deformation fields before intensive impact destructive test.

Key words: radioactive source, transport, package, impact test, finite element method, numerical simulation