Thermal tests of a scaled down mock-up of CP5.2 packaging system: Post-test analysis

In this study, the thermal performances of an Italian CP5.2 packaging system aimed at the transportation of bituminised wastes (i.e. engulfing fire of 800 °C for 30 min according to the IAEA regulation) are presented. Due to the high risk of auto-ignition of the bituminised wastes, that are stowed in the drums, in turn, immersed in the cement matrix of the CP 5.2, it was decided to test firstly a small scale mock-up. The mock up, containing only one drum with bituminised waste, was designed and built at the Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering (DICI) of the University of Pisa. The experimental test was carried out at Lab. Guerrini of the University of Pisa. Results demonstrated that after half an hour of fire exposure at 800 °C, the temperature in the bituminised waste package is below that of auto-ignition of the bitumen. The obtained results allowed in addition to set up the test procedure to adopt for fire test of a full scale CP5.2 system. Post test analysis, which was carried out by performing FEM analysis, is also presented and results compared to the experimental ones.