Operating and extreme load tests

X-ray radiography facility Explosive shock bench "Stvol-410M" Vibration test system

RFNC - VNIIEF offers high experimental research capabilities to conduct a great variety of test operations.

The research and test complex opens up wide opportunities for strength and life testing of various equipment and machinery as exposed to external mechanical, thermal and climatic effects in their warranty period. They also include stress-strain tests of structures under inertial, vibrational and shock-induced loads. The emphasis is testing the safety of items in accidents such as fire, impact or flooding.

Among the challenging VNIIEF activities today is testing of fuel elements (FE) under various operation conditions. These tests are conducted for the purpose of enhanced NPP safety.

Fast neutron reactor BIGR BIGR reactor core FE samples after test

The RFNC - VNIIEF test machines have been used to perform testing of the overpack models for compliance with the IAEA Requirements on air transported packages.

Start of overpack Overpack after separation Overpack impacting on a barrier The effect of abnormal loading Test bench

Operations on the RFNC - VNIIEF internal test grounds also include development and proof-of-performance, e.g. explosion stability, load capacity, etc., tests of the various devices to contain and remotely disable any terrorist or unidentified items.