Technical personnel evaluated the strategic alignment of Research and Development activities related to fuel bundle deformation during Anticipated Operational Occurrences (AOOs), Design Basis Accidents (DBAs) and to a lesser extent, Normal Operating Conditions (NOC).
A Phenomena Based Ranking Table (PBRT) based approach was applied:
- To evaluate the level of knowledge of phenomena, mechanisms and interactions related to fuel bundle deformation--to establish experimental and modelling areas that could benefit from additional research and development
- Identify phenomena and material properties not currently covered
- Determine if the existing modelling tools have the required models to predict fuel bundle deformation during the selected DBA
- Recommend a strategy to address fuel bundle deformation