Title: Loss-of-bond test of sodium-bonded LMFBR (U,Pu)-carbide fuel elements
Abstract: Nine sodium-bonded (U,Pu)-carbide fuel elements were irradiated in EBR-II to simulate, and to assess the consequences of, a loss-of-sodium-bond event during irradiation. Each element contained a bond-voiding device that was designed to eject the bond sodium into an evacuated reservoir when operating power was reached. The test matrix included elements that contained both shrouded and unshrouded fuel columns; two different power levels were also included in the experiment. Two elements were removed after approx. 40 hours of irradiation; the remainder continued to operate to approx. 3 at % burnup. Results of both the short-term and the goal-burnup examinations are presented which indicate that sodium-bond loss will not jeopardize the safe operation of sodium-bonded carbide fuel elements.