b'Figure 2. Burst temperature and pressure data from shortened segments demonstrating agreement with historic empirical modelinvestigation. Another technicalof fuel rods in accident conditions, challenge addressed was relatedwhile the latter seeks to reduce the to thermography measurements.number of variables for development The furnace used in burst testingand validation of material models.emits infrared radiation to heat theFour tests were completed for each claddings. This presented a difficulty,loading condition, with initial pres-as the cladding materials reflect asures of 6.2, 8.2, 10.3, and 15.9 MPalarge portion of infrared radiationat room temperature. This breadth leading to measurable reflectionswas chosen to preliminarily of the tungsten lamps and skewedcompare cladding behavior across temperatures readings. To mitigatea range of conditions pertinent to this effect, a 76.2 cm silicon-carbidehigher burnup fuel. In the report, shell, shown in Figure 1, wasaxial temperature profiles from placed around the cladding segmentinfrared imaging, Figure 3, are removing reflections and acted as anpresented as well as strain, Figure 4, intermediate heating element. and strain rate from several tests are The test matrix utilized two distinctreported, demonstrating successful loading conditions: (1) transientcharacterization and integration of loading, where the cladding trainexperimental techniques. Further was sealed and the internal pressurework will focus on utilizing the allowed to increase with temperaturegenerated data to develop material and (2) constant loading, where themodels, as well as refining the claddings were connected to a fixedexperimental setup.pressure reservoir. The former more accurately reflects pressurization 94 2022|AFC ACCOMPLISHMENTS'