NTB-6 - Guidance Document—Use of Explicit Finite Element Analysis for the Evaluation of Radioactive Material Transport Packages and Storge Casks in Energy-Limited Impact Events

The purpose of this document is to provide guidance for developing quality finite element models to ensure, with reasonable certainty, that the model produces accurate results for comparison with the strain-based or stress-based acceptance criteria of Section III, Division 3 of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (Reference [1]), but could be applicable to other Sections of the Code or other codes. Models developed following the guidance provided in this document meet the definition of a "Quality Model," as described in Paragraph EE 1240 of the Nonmandatory Appendix EE (Strain-Based Acceptance Criteria Definitions and Background Information). It cannot be emphasized enough, however, that the guidance supplied here does not constitute requirements. Rather, the intent of the guidance is to give practical direction to analysts (i.e., this is not a set of regulatory requirements). This guidance document is an "evolving" document. It will undergo revision as computing capability and FEA techniques progress, and as example problems are developed.