Fuel Modelling in Accident Conditions (FUMAC)

This publication summarizes the findings and conclusions of an IAEA coordinated research project on fuel modelling in accident conditions, which was initiated under the IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear Safety following the Fukushima Daiichi accident.

The overall aim of the project was to analyse and better understand fuel behaviour in accident conditions, with a focus on loss of coolant accidents.

In the course of the project the participants used a mixture of data derived from accident simulation experiments, in particular data designed to investigate fuel behaviour during design basis accident and design extension conditions.

They carried out calculations on priority cases selected from a matrix of cases identified at the first research coordination meeting and designed to support their individual priorities.

These priority cases were chosen as the best available to help determine which of the many models used in the codes best reflect reality.

The coordinated research project provided an ideal platform for participants to compare their code results with other results and especially with experimental data, to which they otherwise would not have had access.