Drop Tests | Drop Trials | Drop Test Facility

Transport and storage containers for radioactive or other hazardous materials undergo type testing to demonstrate their safety. The mechanical integrity of the containers is verified through tests in a drop test facility, which can be supplemented with calculations for accident safety.

The new large drop test facility (test specimens up to 65 t) is integrated into an extensive safety area. It enables experimental type testing as required for dangerous goods and nuclear regulatory approval procedures. We support you in the preparation and execution of drop tests.

Our Services

• Assessment of the condition upon delivery of a test specimen
  • Visual inspection
  • NDT (Non-Destructive Testing)
  • Digitalization using state-of-the-art 3D scanning
• Instrumentation, e.g. with
  • Strain gauges
  • Acceleration sensors
  • Thermocouples
  • Displacement sensors (tactile or contactless)
• Assembly
• Leak testing (LT2 personnel)
• Climatic conditioning of the test specimen
• Execution of drop tests, including data acquisition
• Documentation of test results

Technical Data of IABG Drop Test Facilities

The new drop test facility is integrated into an extensive safety area. The impact foundation of the large facility meets IAEA requirements for test specimens with a mass of up to 65 tons.

• Facility 1:650 t foundation for drop tests
  • Total mass > 650 tons
  • Impact plate: 6 m x 4 m x 20 cm, mass 37 t
• Facility 2: 240 t foundation for drop tests
  • Total mass: 240 t
  • Impact plate: 3 m x 3 m
• Crane system
  • Gantry crane with two hoists, each with a 65 t lifting capacity
  • Lifting height: 22 m | Total height: 27 m
  • The hoists of the integrated gantry crane are designed to rotate even extremely heavy and large test specimens while suspended. This allows tests of specimens with shock absorbers that must not be pre-loaded before the drop test.
• Preparation hall
  • For weather-protected pre- and post-preparation of drop tests
  • Overhead crane with 10 t capacity for assembly
  • Customer offices
• Measurement technology
  • Photron high-speed cameras
  • Measurement system up to 4000 k samples and 106 channels
  • 3D measurement technology for digitalization, deformation and motion analysis