Uncertainty quantification and model validation of a dynamic experimentation containment vessel

In support of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has been developing capabilities to provide reliability-based structural evaluation techniques for performing weapon component and system reliability assessments. In the absence of any nuclear testing, the development and application of probabilistic analysis methods plays a key role in enabling these assessments. This paper presents results from an uncertainty quantification and validation of a containment vessel for high-explosive (HE) experiments. The probabilistic dynamic response of the vessel is evaluated through the coupling of the NESSUS probabilistic code with the DYNA3D nonlinear structural dynamics code. The probabilistic model considers variations in geometry and mechanical properties. Work completed thus far to validate the vessel is also presented.