Data for: "Surface breaking crack sizing on advanced gas-cooled reactor fuel rods using laser ultrasonics"

Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors (AGRs) employ graphite as a neutron moderator and carbon dioxide as a coolant. A key component of the AGR is the fuel assembly, which utilizes stainless steel, cylindrical, ribbed fuel pins. During extended storage in water ponds, spent AGR fuel pins are susceptible to corrosion and stress-corrosion cracking (SCC). Cracks of this nature are typically around 150 μm deep and 200 μm wide. The UK's planned cessation of spent fuel reprocessing necessitates long-term storage of this fuel prior to geological disposal, potentially spanning many decades. Consequently, there is a need for robust fuel condition monitoring and inspection techniques to ensure the integrity of the fuel over these extended periods. The project aims to address this need through the application of laser ultrasonics for the detection and characterization of stress-corrosion cracks.