Evaluation of Prefabricated Aluminum Dunnage in a Rail and Road Transportation Environment

The U.S. Army Defense Ammunition Center and School USADACS, Evaluation Division SMCAC-DEV, has been tasked by the U.S. Naval Weapons Station, Earle to evaluate a Navy suggestion to use aluminum dunnage which can be recycled as a replacement for wood. This suggestion was developed at an overseas command where dunnage lumber is expensive and difficult to obtain. Railroad impact and truck transportation tests of differing 500-pound bomb load configurations restrained by different configurations of prefabricated aluminum dunnage were conducted. These tests were accomplished using a flatcar and a flat bed trailer. All test configurations passed the road transportation tests. Rail impact tests The bulkhead restraint was able to keep six bomb units in place up to 6 miles per hour mph but started to deform 100 percent nailing. With 50 percent nailing, the bulkhead restraint unit became separated from the flatcar. Testing of the E frame was unsuccessful because the unit load configuration was not rigid enough. End bracing for this unit is required. The use of aluminum dunnage which can be recycled has the potential of saving the Army and Navy lumber dunnaging expenses. In the case of road transportation, aluminum dunnage satisfied the road transportation tests. A query of the overseas commands Europe and Asia should be made to assess the feasibility of using aluminum dunnage as an alternative for wood.