The Fukushima Daiichi accident showed the need to explore scenarios where external hazards exceed the design basis. Knowledge of plant behaviour along those scenarios helps improve global safety, since the weak points can be identified and measures to limit the progression of potential accidents or to mitigate their consequences can be introduced. Based on an IAEA methodology document for Member States issued in 2011, the current publication expands the previous version by giving a more comprehensive approach and introducing the enhancements that could be identified from the research developments and practical applications in the recent years.

This publication is the result of a benchmarking effort undertaken under the IAEA coordinated research project on improved instrumentation and control (I&C) maintenance techniques for research reactors. It lays the foundation for implementation of on-line monitoring (OLM) techniques and establishment of the validity of those for improved maintenance practices in research reactors for a number of applications such as change to condition based calibration, performance monitoring of process instrumentation systems, detection of process anomalies and to distinguish between process problems/effects and instrumentation/sensor issues. The techniques and guidance embodied in this publication will serve the research reactor community in providing the technical foundation for implementation of OLM techniques. It is intended to be used by Member States to implement I&C maintenance and to improve performance of research reactors.

This publication presents experimental simulations of plasma-surface interaction phenomena at extreme conditions as expected in a fusion reactor, using dedicated test bed devices such as dense plasma focus, particle accelerators, plasma accelerators and plasma guns. It includes the investigation of the mechanism of material damage during transient heat loads on materials and addresses, in particular, the performance and adequacy of tungsten as plasma facing material for the next step fusion devices, such as ITER and fusion demonstration power plants. The publication is a compilation of the main results and findings of an IAEA coordinated research project on investigations on materials under high repetition and intense fusion pulses, conducted in the period 2011–2016 and provides a practical knowledge base for scientists and engineers carrying out activities in the plasma-material surface interaction area.

Projected global population increase and the impacts of climate change on agriculture highlight
the importance of the use of improved crop varieties coupled with better soil, water and fertilizer
management practices designed to protect the natural resource base. This publication is the outcome
of a coordinated research project (CRP) and focuses on the practical application of nuclear and related
techniques, such as mutation induction and the use of stable isotopes of nitrogen [N-15] and carbon
[C-13]. The use of such techniques can improve crop productivity with mutant varieties and best-fit
soil management practices in diverse agroecological zones affected by drought, high temperatures,
water scarcity, soil acidity and soil salinity. The findings of the CRP will be highly valuable to agricultural
scientists and laboratory technicians of national agricultural research organizations in Member States
as a resource for improving soil and crop productivity.

This publication is designed to assist in the development of an appropriate set of regulations for the predisposal management and disposal of disused sealed radioactive sources and small volumes of associated radioactive waste using the IAEA borehole disposal concept. It allows States to appraise the adequacy of their existing regulations and regulatory guides, and can be used as a reference by those States developing regulations for the first time. The model regulations set out in this publication will need to be adapted to take account of the existing national legal and regulatory framework and other local conditions in the State.

This publication provides information and guidelines on how to monitor the performance of insulation and jacket materials of existing cables and establish a programme of cable degradation monitoring and ageing management for operating reactors and the next generation of nuclear facilities. This research was done through a coordinated research project (CRP) with participants from 17 Member States. This group of experts compiled the current knowledge in a report together with areas of future research and development to cover aging mechanisms and means to identify and manage the consequences of aging. They established a benchmarking programme using cable samples aged under thermal and/or radiation conditions, and tested before and after ageing by various methods and organizations. The results of these benchmark tests were then compared to identify the best condition monitoring methods and establish recommendations for improvements. The conclusions of the data analysis provided insight into condition monitoring techniques which yield usable or traceable results.

This publication, prepared in light of the IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear Safety developed after the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, addresses the management of large volumes of radioactive waste arising in a nuclear or radiological emergency, as part of overall emergency preparedness. The management of large volumes of waste will be one of many efforts to be dealt with to allow recovery of affected areas, to support return of evacuated or relocated populations and preparations for normal social and economic activities, and/or to mitigate additional environmental impacts. The publication is intended to be of use to national planners and policy makers, facility and programme managers, and other professionals responsible for developing and implementing national plans and strategies to manage radioactive waste arising from nuclear or radiological emergencies.

In accordance with the relevant IAEA safety standards, this publication complements IAEA Safety Standards Series No. SSG-1, Borehole Disposal Facilities for Radioactive Waste, by presenting a generic post-closure safety assessment for the IAEA borehole disposal concept of disused sealed radioactive sources in narrow boreholes. All the steps required to conduct such an assessment are covered by providing safety elements to ensure safety at borehole disposal sites. The publication identifies the key safety features, under varying disposal system conditions, in order to support the design and licensing processes of the borehole disposal concept, and facilitate its site specific implementation. The publication is primarily intended for those involved in developing or regulating the disposal of disused sealed radioactive sources to borehole facilities and will be of particular interest to States that have disused sealed radioactive sources but not suitable disposal options at present.

Ion beam analysis techniques are non-destructive analytical techniques used to identify the composition and structure of surface layers of materials. The applications of these techniques span environmental control, cultural heritage and conservation, materials and fusion technologies. The particle-induced gamma-ray emission (PIGE) spectroscopy technique in particular, is a powerful tool for detecting light elements in certain depths of surface layers. This publication describes the coordinated effort to measure and compile cross section data relevant to PIGE analysis and make these data available to the community of practice through a comprehensive online database.

This publication provides an overview of conventional and isotopic methods available for measuring and modelling soil carbon dynamics. It includes information on the use of carbon isotopes in soil and plant research, including both theoretical and practical aspects of nuclear and radioisotope tracer techniques for in situ glasshouse and field labelling techniques to assess soil organic carbon turnover and sequestration, and provides up-to-date information on topics related to soil carbon sequestration and stabilization in agroecosystems. With its focus on practical application of radiotracer and stable isotope tracer techniques, it will be particularly useful for university and national research scientists working to improve soil organic matter management and conservation in agricultural systems.

This publication presents the results and conclusions of an international research collaboration devoted to gaining a better understanding of the physics of Accelerator Driven Subcritical Systems (ADS), with particular emphasis on using low enriched uranium (LEU) fuel. The publication contains information on nine ADS facilities, including descriptions of the hardware deployed, experiments conducted, computational resources and procedures used in the analyses, principal results obtained, and conclusions drawn from the knowledge gained as a consequence of this work. It is intended to provide information for users of ADS systems and those involved in the design of new ADS facilities to use LEU fuel and in the conversion of some existing facilities from using highly enriched Uranium (HEU) to LEU.

This publication presents the results and main achievements of an IAEA coordinated research project to verify and validate system and safety codes used in the analyses of liquid metal thermal hydraulics and neutronics phenomena in sodium cooled fast reactors. The publication will be of use to the researchers and professionals currently working on relevant fast reactors programmes. In addition, it is intended to support the training of the next generation of analysts and designers through international benchmark exercises