Critical review of data and correlations describing key clad thermo-mechanical processes under SFR transient conditions: Alternative modelling

A critical review of published data and correlations regarding cladding mechanical behaviour under transient conditions has been conducted. The study has been focused on the yield strength and the strain limit of 20% CW 316 stainless steel. It has been found that the database is scarce to derive sound models, especially for irradiated materials. Nevertheless, based on the missing information and the available data, a set of empirical correlations have been proposed. They have been shown to capture the experimental trends observed and to be conservative, being simpler than previous models. Despite these achievements, further validation should be conducted as soon as reliable data are available.