International Criticality Safety Benchmark Evaluation Project (ICSBEP)

Database for ICSBEP

DICE (Database for the International Criticality Safety Benchmark Evaluation Project) is included on the CD-ROM version of the Handbook. DICE is an NEA developed tool that is intended to make more efficient use of the Handbook and will enable users to more easily identify information in the Handbook that meets their needs. Basically, DICE is a relational database with a user interface to query the database. DICE accomplishes two main objectives:

1. Provide a summary description of each experimental configuration, where the main characteristics of the experiments are displayed in a uniform format.
2. Allow users to search the handbook for experimental configurations that satisfy their unique input criteria (much more than a word search).

DICE provides the user with access to several categories of data, including:

• Detailed 1-group neutron balance data for each configuration with individual isotope contributions in different regions of the geometry.
• Flux and other reaction rates spectra in a 299-group energy scheme. Plotting capabilities were implemented into DICE allowing the user to compare the spectra of selected configurations in the original fine energy structure or on any user-defined broader energy structure.
• Sensitivity coefficients (percent changes of k-effective due to elementary change of basic nuclear data) for the major nuclides and nuclear processes in a 30-group energy structure. These data are currently only available for a selection of experimental configurations.

Extensive efforts have been made to verify the data in DICE; however, those data are still subject to possible data entry errors and omissions. The International Handbook remains the primary source of criticality safety benchmark data.

For more information about DICE, see the user's manual.