15.3. FUEL BEHAVIOUR

This section examines the experimental programmes devoted to fuel behaviour under normal operation but focussing particularly on transient/accident conditions. Examples of important current programmes are given in Table 15.3. Research is progressing on the behaviour of advanced fuels and clads in current generation plant to optimise performance, without challenging the margins of existing safety cases. Much of the present work is also relevant to evolutionary water designs. Many of the issues were discussed earlier in Chapter 5. Research programmes for advanced fuel cycles play an important part in the progress towards the future innovative designs that are being considered under the Generation IV initiative. These are discussed later in this chapter.