(a) A test rod was placed in a quartz reaction tube and heated under steam flow using an infrared image furnace. (b) The test rod was heated and quenched as indicated to simulate the behavior of a fuel cladding tube postulated during LOCAs. During quenching, an axial restraint load was applied to the test rod for several minutes to simulate a restraint load caused by the components of a fuel assembly and see whether the test rod can withstand against fracture.