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Pellet-cladding mechanical interaction in Halden Assembly IFA-226

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6836040· OSTI ID:6836040
Instrumented Fuel Assembly (IFA) 226 was a (U,PU)O/sub 2/ fueled and zircaloy clad assembly which operated in the Halden Boiling Water Reactor, Halden, Norway, to a peak burnup in excess of 40,000 MWd/t. The assembly was instrumented with fuel rod elongation sensors to continuously monitor pellet-cladding mechanical interaction (PCMI) in selected fuel rods. The elongation behavior of these rods was evaluated to assess the influence of fabrication and irradiation variables on PCMI. The PCMI behavior at startup is contrasted with PCMI at high exposures. Observations on fuel fracture, fuel conditioning, axial racheting, ramp rate, strain relaxation, fuel swelling, and zircaloy growth, and their effects on PCMI, are included.
Research Organization:
Idaho National Engineering Lab., Idaho Falls (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
EY-76-C-07-1570
OSTI ID:
6836040
Report Number(s):
NUREG/CR-0282; TREE-1266
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English