Mathematical and Computational Modelling for Nuclear Criticality Safety Analysis and Assessment of Interacting Arrays of Loosely Coupled Systems

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The aim is to develop novel mathematical and computational methods for modelling the nuclear criticality excursion behaviour of interacting arrays of loosely coupled systems containing fissile material where some of the array components are sub-critical and some are super-critical or where an extraneous (or external) neutron source is introduced into the system. In terms of the front and back end of the fuel cycle nuclear material is found in a very wide range of different physical forms and material phases from metallic systems, to powders, to cakes, to slurries, to sludges, to emulsions, to colloids and also suspensions. This material is often stored in a wide range of different containers with different geometries within storage facilities and buildings often as arrays of such storage containers. Interacting arrays containing fissile material can broadly be categorised as well defined arrays or ill-defined arrays. In well-defined interacting arrays the composition, density, size, shape and position of the fissile units or bodies is "a priori" well characterised or known. In addition the distribution and composition of reflecting and moderating materials is defined fairly precisely.Overall this PhD project would provide the MoD contractor with a unique set of methods that can be used to model a wider range of scenarios that currently possible. Most special nuclear material (SNM) is stored in facilities in a wide variety of forms and usually in regularly spaced arrays. The methods will also be of interest to other parts of the nuclear fuel cycle as well.