Acoustic emission and active sensing capabilities on full-scale nuclear dry cask storage structures

Nuclear dry cask storage systems are being used for extended periods of time. Structural health monitoring of these casks has grown out of concern that the radioactive waste could jeopardize the casks’ structural health as time progresses. Ultrasonic guided waves offer a potential solution for monitoring the nuclear casks structural health without opening the containers. This paper explores sensing techniques on small-scale mockup and full scale dry cask storage systems. Methods include acoustic emission (AE) as well as active sensing. Results showed accuracies in localizations, differences in sensing techniques, structural responses, and the capabilities of ultrasonic guided waves in dry cask storage systems.