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R&D Reports

This page provides a list of reports that have been prepared for research, analysis and evaluations purposes. Over a period of years, reports have been prepared to support the safety mission of the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety.

HM-ACCESS

SP 8451 Shipping Pipe Test Report

Qualifying Containers for Safing Batteries in Runaway

Rail Shipper Hazmat Risk Information System

Composite Cylinder Stress Analysis Software

Black Powder Equivalency

Risk Model Development of Explosives by Truck

Composite Metal Foam Impact and Thermal Performance

Desensitization Process for Fireworks

Default Classification of Conical Shaped Charges

Lithium Ion Battery Thermal Runaway Measurement Techniques

Thermite Research Report
Safety Management Services (SMS) has conducted extensive research into the transportation hazards of energetic thermite (metal / metal-oxide) materials. In this work, SMS examined the results of multiple years of research and explosive testing of these energetic materials and discussed potential classification pathways. While all thermites meet the regulatory definition of a Class 1 explosive, the report provides several suggestions on a testing/classification approach that could provide relief equivalent to PHMSA's interim thermite classification policy. These results shall be used to guide current and future PHMSA efforts in appropriately classifying the transportation hazards of these materials.

DOT SIB Testing Report
The Naval Research Laboratory researched sodium-ion batteries, an emerging battery technology which could be a safer alternative to lithium-ion batteries. In this work, three different sodium-ion batteries were tested to examine failure modes. Overall, the sodium-ion batteries studied had more benign failure modes than all lithium-ion battery types.

Fire Performance of a UN-T75 Portable Tank
PHMSA partnered with FRA to conduct research into the safety of UN-75 to transport LNG by rail.

Fine Grain Metal Powder Final Report
Under contract with PHMSA, A-P-T Research, Inc. conducted research and testing for a variety of percentages of fine grain metal powders in pyrotechnic compositions (specifically in burst charges) to identify the potential safety impacts on hazard classification when changing the concentration of the metal powders.

Aerosol Transportation Risk Assessment
PHMSA contracted with the Cambridge Systematics Team to complete an Aerosol Risk Assessment. The purpose of this assessment was to determine if the United Nations Model Regulations' definition of aerosols maintain an equivalent level of safety to the Hazardous Material Regulations' (HMR) definition used in the United States.

Lithium Ion Battery Failure Mechanisms
PHMSA funded Naval Research Laboratory to conduct research on LiB failure mechanism detection and runaway suppression technologies. Similar LiB studies conducted by NRL were also funded by PHMSA.

Energetic Properties of Thermite
PHMSA investigated different families of thermites to determine exclusion of certain thermite formulations from Class 1 without testing and for possible changes to transportation regulations.

Crude Oil Testing
This report describes an experimental study of physical, chemical, and combustion characteristics of selected North American crude oils conducted by Sandia National Laboratory

Risk Assessment of HazMat Transport by Unmmaned, Autonomous Vehicles
This report identifies common shipping hazards unique to each particular UAV transport mode.

Risk Assessment of Surface Transport of Liquid Natural Gas
In the absence of pipeline infrastructure, delivering natural gas in liquefied form by truck or by rail may be suitable alternative. This report examines the risks of shipping LNG by surface modes, with an emphasis on rail.

2016 Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) Technical Report
The ERG provides information on firefighting and mitigation strategies as well as on potential health effects associated with various chemicals. This report provides the technical documentation for the values in the ERG2016 "Table of Initial Isolation and Protective Action Distances" and other information appearing in the ERG Green Pages.

Research into Cold Conditioning of IBCs, Phase 2 – Pre-chilled Liquid
This R&D project to evaluate the ASTM guides from recent years was completed during Phase 1. The principles and methods covered in those guides were in part used to develop the research plan employed by LOGSA. For questions contact Mark Toughiry.

Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) Composite Cylinder Life Extension Research Project (June 20, 2014)
This research and development (R&D) project was initiated to assess the risk associated by using the SCBA composite cylinders (DOT FRP-1 and CFFC) at the Municipal Fire Stations beyond their 15 year service life.

Inspection Procedure for Inspection of DOT/TC cylinder Mounting Threads (Oct. 12, 2007)
Basic guidelines for the inspection and evaluation of DOT/TC cylinder (tube) mounting threads with outside diameter greater than or equal 18.

Metallurgical Evaluation of Anhydrous Ammonia Cargo Tank (Nurse Tank) (June 20, 2007)
The report is result of a failure analysis and metallurgical analysis of a cargo tank (commonly known as a Nurse Tank). The Nurse Tank failed in service from a cracked head. The purpose of this project was to determine the crack initiation site (CIS) and the cause of the tank failure.

Basic Requirements for Fully Wrapped Carbon-Fiber Reinforced Aluminum Lined Cylinders (Mar. 1, 2007)
This is the basis requirements (standard) by OHM for design, construction and manufacturing fully wrapped carbon-fiber reinforced cylinders (CFFC).

Metallurgical Evaluation / Analysis Reports (June 20, 2007)
The purpose of this project was to determine chemical and metallurgical characteristics of the DOT-3-AA seamless steel cylinder with a pin hole leak on the sidewall, initial point of fracture, and possible cause of leak.

Evaluation of Nondestructive Examination for Re-qualification Of Composite Gas (Sept. 30, 2002)
This Research and Development (R&D) project has been performed to evaluate several NDE methods based on their potential ability to detect common flaws such as impact damage in composite gas cylinders.

DOT FRP-2 Standard, Basic Requirements For Fiber Reinforced Plastic Type 3HW Composite Cylinders (Jan. 14, 1987)
This is the basis requirements (standard) by OHM for design, construction and manufacturing Hoop wrapped Fiber Reinforced Composite (HW) Cylinders (FRP-2).

DOT FRP-1 Standard, Basic Requirements For Fiber Reinforced Plastic Type 3FC Composite Cylinders (Feb. 17, 1987)
This is the basis requirements (standard) by OHM for design, construction and manufacturing fully wrapped Fiber Reinforced Plastic Type 3FC Composite Cylinders (FRP-1).