Lifetime predictions for mixed-oxide LMFBR fuel pins clad with type 304 stainless steel

A method of predicting fuel pin lifetimes is described for stainless steel clad mixed oxide LMFBR fuel pins at cladding temperatures below about 1100$sup 0$F. The development of this method required (1) determining empirical relations for in-reactor fuel pin cladding stress and creep rates based on reported strains of EBR-II driver fuel pins, and (2) applying the in-reactor creep equation to mixed oxide fuel pins. Good agreement was obtained between calculated and measured in-reactor creep strain and between an in-reactor strain to failure correlation and observed failures in mixed oxide fuel pins clad with 304 stainless steel. An in-reactor creep relationship for the temperature range 700$sup 0$F to 1050$sup 0$F was developed using reported cladding mechanical strain data for the EBR-II metal fueled, driver fuel pins. (auth)