A publication of the Office of Advanced Simulation & Computing, NA-114, NNSA Defense Programs
December 2007
NA-ASC-500-07—Issue
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Accident Response of SafeGuards Transporters Simulated
For the first time, Sandia National Laboratories analysts simulated the accident response of a full-scale SafeGuards Transporter (SGT), including the weapons cargo. Testing of full-scale SGT accident scenarios is very limited and, as a result, provides little insight into the effects of different impact conditions and does not have the ability to assess the efficacy of design modifications of the transporter. As a result, computational simulation is the only way to address the diverse scenarios that must be explored.
The high-fidelity SGT finite element model, containing 20 million degrees-of-freedom was run with the ASC transient dynamics capability in Sandia’s SIERRA Mechanics code suite. When the simulation results were compared to the existing full-scale test results, it was found that the model faithfully replicated the experimental results. The simulation of the 300-millisecond crash event required 500,000 CPU-hours on Red Storm.
Computer simulations using Sandia’s finite element model will be used to identify worst-case scenarios and assess design modifications, as well as quantifying margins and uncertainties associated with accident scenarios. These simulations will exercise the unique capabilities in Sandia's engineering codes and will utilize Red Storm and the next generation of capability machines. Since weapon safety requires the ability to assess weapon component response from insults external to the SGT, there is a need for very high-fidelity models, and some scenarios will require even higher fidelity models than we can currently run.
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