Post-irradiation examination (PIE) is an indispensable step in the selection of new or improved research reactor fuel, and in the characterization and understanding of its in-core behaviour. This publication provides an introduction to PIE techniques. It describes a typical PIE process from intercycle inspections in the reactor pool or channel, to hot cell PIE, which is subdivided into non-destructive and destructive testing techniques with their typical output, advantages and drawbacks, and their applicability to understanding fuel irradiation behaviour. Much of the work presented in this publication originated from the research and development of new low enriched uranium research reactor fuels. Intended readers include research reactor operators, regulators and their technical support organizations, fuel developers and manufacturers, laboratory staff, and policy makers.

The guidebook gives a complete survey of non-destructive techniques available for application in the spent fuel pool as well as in hot cells, thereby supplementing an earlier publication, IAEA- TECDOC-245. It provides information on methods of examining water reactor fuel and a basis for further innovations.

This guidebook gives a complete survey of destructive techniques available to perform microstructural examinations, elemental and isotopic analyses and measurement of physical, chemical and mechanical properties of irradiated fuel and structural materials, and describes asociated refabrication and instrumentation techniques. Non-destructive examination (NDE) data are verified by destructive examination (DE) data. The data were submitted to the IAEA by hot laboratories from 12 countries and one international organization (CEC/ITU) during the period 1992-1995. Together with IAEA Technical Reports Series No.322 (1991), Guidebook on non-destructive examination of water reactor fuel, it presents the most comprehensive summary of post-irradiation examination techniques to date.