The　manufacturing　process　of　nuclear　fuel　cladding　tubes　endows　them　with　anisotropic　material　properties.　In　this　study,　a　small　punch　testing　(SPT)　method　was　established　to　investigate　the　circumferential　tensile　behavior　of　nuclear　fuel　cladding　tubes.　The　specimen　of　the　proposed　SPT　method　was　bended　and　stretched　in　a　single　stress　state　under　a　punching　force.　The　proposed　SPT　method　was　then　used　to　analyze　the　circumferential　tensile　behavior　of　a　FeCrAl　fuel　cladding　tube.　Finite　element　simulation　results　indicated　that　the　SPT　method　established　herein　determined　ultimate　tensile　stress　with　higher　accuracy　than　standard　SPT　because　the　plastic　strain　in　the　proposed　method　under　maximum　force　is　considerably　smaller　than　that　in　standard　SPT.　Moreover,　the　proposed　method　can　more　accurately　determine　yield　stress　compared　with　standard　SPT,　as　reflected　by　the　elastic　stage　in　the　load–displacement　curve　that　was　a　straight　line.　The　test　results　indicated　that　the　proposed　SPT　can　be　used　to　accurately　determine　the　circumferential　yield　stress　and　ultimate　tensile　stress　of　nuclear　fuel　cladding　tubes.　©　2023　Elsevier　B.V.