Hazardous and Radioactive Material Transportation
As a multipurpose National Laboratory, Argonne has extensive capabilities
in all disciplines related to the transportation of hazardous and radioactive
materials. Since 1985 major projects have focused on evaluating radioactive
materials packaging, assessing the risk associated with transporting hazardous
(chemically toxic) as well as readioactive materials, and predicting failure of
components under extreme mechanical and thermal loadings.
The Hazardous and
Radioactive Materials Transportation Group is responsible for coordinating
work in this area at Argonne.
Argonne has been the technical arm of the U.S.
Department of Energy, the U.S.
packaging certification authority, for the evaluation of
radioactive materials
packaging. Argonne is responsible for assessing the safety and the
regulatory
compliance of packaging designed for use across the DOE Complex for shipping
fissile and radioactive materials.
In risk assessment work Argonne National Laboratory contributes
to major programs
associated with transporting hazardous and radioactive materials. Major
accomplishments include the development of environmental risk assessment
models, catastrophic risk management, and risk communication with
community and stakeholder groups.
Argonne also has considerable expertise, acquired through its extensive
reactor
engineering programs, in nuclear and chemical technology, safety analysis,
hazards and risk assessment, structural and fluid mechanics, heat transfer,
materials behavior, high performance computing, and knowledge-based expert
systems. Argonne engineers have developed state-of-the-art analytical methods
and finite element computer codes for modeling the response of structures under
impulsive loading, impact and penetration effects, thermo-elastic-plastic
response, buckling behavior, and crash worthiness assessment.
The Center for Transportation Research evaluates the effects
of federal transportation policies and examines the prospects for
new transportation technologies. Economic modeling and engineering
are the foundation of the Center's work. Current projects address
the feasibility of alternative-fueled vehicles, oxygen enrichment
for diesel and conventional engines, controlling nitrogen oxides,
hybrid-electric vehicles, lightweight materials, and gasoline
reformulation.
Argonne has been extensively involved in emergency preparedness work for the
last 15 years. Focus areas have been preparedness implementation, evaluation,
research, and training, and have provided technical support to multiple federal
agencies, American Indian nations, and foreign countries. Argonne has also
developed and operated for many years nationwide computer information systems
used by hazardous materials transportation professionals.
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