The investigation of a broad array of fuel compounds and cycle options, as foreseen in the frame of international programmes like e.g. Generation Ⅳ, without the wealth of resources available in the '70s and '80s of the last century is a formidable challenge. Limited budget, lack of infrastructure (in particular for fast neutron irradiation and for cost effective transportation of irradiated fuels) and long-term programme instability make it difficult to adopt the traditional "observe and qualify" approach, based on parametric studies of the irradiation behaviour of fuel compounds under different configurations. The JRC-ITU safety studies of advanced fuels and cycles adopt two main axes: (ⅰ) the full exploitation of still available and highly relevant knowledge and samples from past fuel preparation and irradiation campaigns (complementing the limited number of ongoing programmes); (ⅱ) the shift of focus from simple property measurement towards the understanding of basic mechanisms determining property evolution and behaviour of fuel compounds during normal, off-normal and accident conditions. The final objective of the second axis is the determination of predictive tools applicable to systems and conditions different from those from which they were derived. State of the art experimental facilities, extensive networks of partnerships and collaboration with other organizations worldwide, and a developing programme for training and education are essential in this approach. This paper presents highlights and examples of recent and ongoing projects implementing this strategy.
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