Abstract: Structures including a curved corrugated wall fabricated from a plurality of layers formed of one or more shaped strips and methods of forming the structures are described. A shaped strip used in the fabrication includes a variable profile across the width of the strip with a first edge of a strip defining a series of cell profiles of a first geometric shape and a second, opposite edge of the strip defining a series of cell profiles of a second, different geometric shape, with each cell transitioning from the first profile to the second profile across the width of the strip. The geometry of the cell profiles at either end of each cell can be designed with respect to one another to allow for radial orientation of the strip about an axis with little or no deformation or stress on the strip edges.

Abstract: The invention provides a containment structure, the containment structure comprising a vessel with an upwardly facing opening defining a periphery; a lid in rotatable and slidable communication with the periphery; and a plurality of rods contained within the lid and in slidable communication with the periphery. Also provided is a method for sealing and unsealing a containment vessel defining a body with a longitudinal axis and a lid, the method comprising simultaneously moving the lid parallel to the longitudinal axis and orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of explosively forming a helical tube from at least one thin-walled cylinder using a tooling assembly. The method includes inserting the at least one thin-walled cylinder into a die of the tooling assembly. The die surrounds the at least one thin-walled cylinder and includes an interior surface that defines a helical thread pattern. The method further includes surrounding the at least one thin-walled cylinder and the die with a casing of the tooling assembly. A cavity is defined by the casing and the thin-walled cylinder. The method further includes positioning an explosive charge within the cavity. The method additionally includes at least partially submerging the tooling assembly. The method further includes detonating the explosive charge. As a result, the at least one thin-walled cylinder is formed into a helical tube that corresponds with helical thread pattern of the interior surface of the die.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of explosively forming a helical tube from at least one thin-walled cylinder using a tooling assembly. The method includes inserting the at least one thin-walled cylinder into a die of the tooling assembly. The die surrounds the at least one thin-walled cylinder and includes an interior surface that defines a helical thread pattern. The method further includes surrounding the at least one thin-walled cylinder and the die with a casing of the tooling assembly. A cavity is defined by the casing and the thin-walled cylinder. The method further includes positioning an explosive charge within the cavity. The method additionally includes at least partially submerging the tooling assembly. The method further includes detonating the explosive charge. As a result, the at least one thin-walled cylinder is formed into a helical tube that corresponds with helical thread pattern of the interior surface of the die.

Abstract: Closure ring to retain a lid in contact with a metal drum in central C-section conforming to the contact area between a lid and the rim of a drum and further having a radially inwardly directed flange and a vertically downwardly directed flange attached to the opposite ends of the C-section. The additional flanges reinforce the top of the drum by reducing deformation when the drum is dropped and maintain the lid in contact with the drum. The invention is particularly valuable in transportation and storage of fissile material.

Abstract: A shipping container for enclosing a material container containing nuclear and/or other hazardous material. The shipping container can include a body having an open top and a lid assembly for closing the open top. The body can include a liner arranged in spaced relationship with the body to define a space therebetween. The lid assembly and the body can together define a storage chamber in which the material container is housed. The lid assembly can have a lid top and a lid liner coupled to the lid top to define a space therebetween. The space in the lid assembly can also include one or more reinforcing members to increase the compression strength of the lid assembly. The spaces in the body and lid assembly can be filled with a liner material, such as foam, to increase stiffness.

Abstract: A model generator and method of generating a model of an object for use in finite element analysis is provided. The model generator (24) includes an input data storage (12) with an output coupled to an input of a materials information generator (14) and an input of a mesh processor (16). The materials information generator (14) has an output coupled to a second input of the mesh processor (16). The mesh processor (16) has an output coupled to a thermal conditions processor (18) and a second output coupled to an output generator (20). The thermal conditions processor (18) has an output coupled to a third input of the mesh processor (16). The output generator (20) has an output coupled to an input of an output storage (22).