Pre-release validation database for the multi-dimensional fuel performance code OFFBEAT

This paper presents a summary of the verification and validation efforts performed to assess the capabilities of the OFFBEAT multi-dimensional fuel performance code. The results discussed in this work refer to the code's most recent status, prior to the public release foreseen for Q1/Q2 of 2022. The verification cases test single modeling aspects and represent an essential development tool as they might reveal potential fundamental issues with the numerical scheme or with the implementation of specific models. The validation efforts focus on LWR applications and on the prediction of integral quantities such as the fuel centerline temperature and the total fission gas release fraction. The rods' specifications and irradiation histories as well as the on-line or post-irradiation measurements are derived from the public IFPE database. Overall, the comparison against the experiments is satisfactory as the results remain within typically accepted error bounds and compare well with other codes. (authors)