The puncture resistance of casks used for shipping radioactive materials was investigated with sandwich models which simulated one wall of a 1/12 th scale cask. Most of the sandwich models consisted of a layer of lead between steel plates, simulating the lead shield and inner and outer steel shells of a cask. A few tests were also conducted with sandwich models of casks with an intermediate steel shell and dual lead shields. The main parameters investigated were the thickness and the physical properties of the outer steel shell. The steels used were mild steel, high-strength steel, and stainless steel. For each parameter variation the energy for incipient puncture by a cylindrical, fiat-faced pin was determined. The data were used to prepare a design curve giving the relation between the thickness of the outer steel shell and the impact energy to be withstood.
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