In the present article, electron probe microanalysis data for Pu and
Nd is being used for validating the predictions of the radial power
profile in a nuclear fuel rod at an ultrahigh burn-up of 95 and 102
MWd/kgHM. As such the validation of both the new Monte Carlo burn-up
code ALEPH and the simpler TUBRNP model of the fuel rod performance code
TRANSURANUS has been extended. The analysis of the absolute concentrations
and individual isotopes also indicates potential improvements in the
predictive capabilities of the simple TUBRNP model, based on the one-group
cross sections inferred from the neutron transport calculations in the
ALEPH code. This is a first important step toward extending the
application range of the fuel rod performance code to burn-up values
projected in nuclear power rods based on current trends.