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Use of Local Variation Method for Nuclear Design Calculations

A. I. Zhukov

Nuclear Science and Engineering / Volume 159 / Number 1 / May 2008 / Pages 48-55

Technical Paper / dx.doi.org/10.13182/NSE159-48

The paper presents a local variation method for solving steady-state equations that describe neutron diffusion. The method is based on a variation principle for steady-state diffusion equations and a direct search for the minimum of a corresponding functional and finite element problem definition. The method helps avoid large matrices typical of the conventional finite element method. Benchmark problem calculations of fuel assembly power show a root-mean-square accuracy of ~2%.