Based on measured rim characteristics of LWR high burnup UO2 fuel, the pres
sure of rim pores and the additional pellet swelling due to rim formation h
ave been modeled. Using the assumption that the number of Xe atoms retained
in the rim pores is the same as that which is depleted from the rim matrix
, excessive pore pressure is derived as a function of temperature, pellet a
verage burnup and pore radius. The rim pores with small radii are calculate
d to be highly overpressurized at high burnup. Comparison with experimental
data shows that, while the pellet swelling obtained with best-estimate rim
width is underpredicted, the one calculated with conservative rim width ag
rees well with the measured data for rim burnups between 50 and 65 GWd/tU.
On the other hand, the measured swelling at 85 GWd/tU is about in-between t
he two calculations. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.