SUMMARYStructural analyses of high-burnup fuel require cladding mechanical properties and failure limits to assess fuel behavior during long-term dry cask storage and transportation. Pre-storage drying-transfer operations and early stage storage subject cladding to higher temperatures and much higher pressure-induced tensile hoop stresses relative to in-reactor operation and pool storage. Under these conditions, radial hydrides may precipitate during slow cooling and provide an additional embrittlement mechanism as the cladding temperature decreases below the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature (DBTT). On the basis of previous test results, susceptibility to radial-hydride precipitation depends on cladding material, microstructure, and pre-drying distribution of hydrides across the cladding wall, as well as peak hoop stresses and temperatures during drying operations and storage. Susceptibility to embrittlement depends on the extent of radial-hydride precipitation and the thickness of the outer-surface hydride rim.Consistent with the Argonne Test Plan (December 31, 2011), baseline studies were conducted with asirradiated cladding to determine hydrogen distribution and hydride morphology across the cladding wall; strain-rate sensitivity; and temperature sensitivity of high-burnup M5 ® , ZIRLO™, and Zircaloy-4 (Zry-4) cladding subjected to ring compression test (RCT) loading. The results also serve as the baseline for highburnup cladding exposed to drying-storage conditions that do not lead to radial-hydride precipitation.Baseline mechanical properties and failure limits for irradiated M5 ® and ZIRLO™ are particularly important because they are not publicly available. Cladding samples used for baseline studies were from sibling high-burnup rods irradiated to high-burnup in the same assembly as cladding samples used to study radial-hydride-induced embrittlement. RCT displacement rates were 0.05-50 mm/s (1000-fold increase in elastic strain rate). High-burnup M5 ® with <100-wppm hydrogen exhibited high strength (based on maximum load) and high ductility (>10%, based on offset strain) with relatively low strain-rate and temperature (20-90°C) sensitivity. High-burnup ZIRLO™ samples had 530-wppm hydrogen, a welldeveloped hydride rim, and only 140-wppm hydrogen within the inner two-thirds of the cladding wall. This ZIRLO™ also exhibited low strain-rate and temperature sensitivity. Cracking initiated in the hydride rim. Room-temperature (RT) offset strains were 7±1% for the three displacement rates. Offset strains increased from 7% to >10% with the 20-150°C increase in RCT temperature. High-burnup Zry-4 samples had 640-wppm hydrogen, a well-developed hydride rim, and 250-wppm hydrogen within the inner twothirds of the cladding wall. Based on maximum load, the material appeared to have low strain-rate sensitivity. However, offset strains were too low (<2%) to assess strain-rate and temperature (20-90°C) effects on ductility. Cracking within the outer half of the cladding wall occurred concurrently with plastic defor...