Architecture and management of a geological repository - Andra

11 – Operational Safety“Honeycomb”Compressed air gun10 cmProjectile6 cmBefore crashAfter crashFigure 11.2.2Honeycomb material crash test (Impact Speed 200 km/h)These different measures are illustrated in Figure 11.2.3.Quantifying the effect of the shock absorber on the packages transported in the cage requiredsimulation studies presented in Section 11.7 to be undertaken. They show that at the moment ofimpact, the shock absorber and the cage would absorb the largest part of the energy. The metalstructure of the transfer transfer cask would be misshapen but not split open. Primary packages shouldremain intact even if, in the case of B waste packages, the concrete envelope of the disposal packagewere damaged.However, given the uncertainties associated with the sequence of events leading to a cage falling downa shaft that would not be covered by the aforementioned simulation studies, radioactive materialrelease scenarios have also been envisaged in Section 11.7 in order to obtain an order of magnitude ofthe radiological consequences resulting from the drop and to ensure that the technical means exist, ifrequired, to limit their impact to an acceptable level for the environment.DOSSIER 2005 ARGILE -ARCHITECTURE AND MANAGEMENT OF A GEOLOGICAL DISPOSAL SYSTEM449/495