Mechanical Assessment of Degraded Waste Packages and Drip Shields Subject to Vibratory Ground Motion

Vertical load was applied uniformly over the entire top surface of the plate, and the load was increased in increments. For each load increment, the equilibrium state of the problem was determined. Because of the continuously hardening postyield behavior of Titanium Grade 7, equilibrium could be achieved for any vertical load. However, at a certain load level, the region of the plate between the stiffener and the support over the legs snaps through. Usually, the failure criteria for Titanium Grade 7 are reached when the plate snaps through, indicating that the plates would tear at the contact with the bulkheads or longitudinal stiffeners.