Evaluation of the Shock Absorption Properties of Rigid Polyurethane and Polystyrene Foam Used in a Small Transport Package

Abstract

The research described in this paper concerns the characterisation of polyurethane and polystyrene foam for use as shock absorbing filling materials in impact limiters for nuclear transport packages. For a comparatively small cylindrical transport package the mechanical properties of the foam material in compression tests, a preliminary determination of the best foam density and its co-relation with other material properties, appropriate selection of polyurethane and polystyrene from the relation between the reaction force due to the drop impact and their compression characteristic properties are discussed.