Abstract
Abstract
The integrity of fuel rod claddings during a loss of coolant accident (LOCA) is usually assessed by comparing calculated stresses or strains with the corresponding failure thresholds. Alternatively, the cladding integrity could also be evaluated on the basis of the time elapsed since the LOCA onset. To apply this assessment criterion the relationship between failure time and cladding loading must be available. The relationship can be established computationally by monitoring the evaluation of cladding inner and outer radius during the high temperature creep process. The cladding is classified as defective when the predicted inner radius equals or exceeds the anticipated outer radius. Using a suitable creep rate correlation it is shown which results are yielded by this procedure.