Principal Investigator Kord Smith
Modern computing has made possible vast improvements in physics models used for reactor analysis, and many approximations in current-generation tools are being systematically improved or eliminated. Significant verification and validation (V&V) challenges are being addressed as new methods are prepared for deployment in production tools. Our group is engaged in an effort to use data from operating LWRs for qualification of new methods. As data is analyzed, open-literature benchmarks are being prepared for use in V&V efforts within the broader nuclear industry. Students have opportunities to develop not only improved analysis methods, but also new techniques for V&V. Students also help support nuclear utilities and fuel vendors by solving practical reactor analysis problems.