Validation for application of the Monte Carlo simulation code for 235U mass content verification for large size samples of nuclear materials

Abstract

In this work, a new semi- absolute non-destructive assay technique has been developed to verify the mass content of 235U in the large sizes nuclear material samples of different enrichment through combination of experimental measurements and Mont Carlo calculations (version MCNP5). A good agreement was found between the calculated and declared values of the mass content of 235U of uranium oxide (UO2) samples. The results obtained from Mont Carlo calculations showed that the semi-absolute technique can be used with sufficient reliability to verify the uranium mass content in the large sizes nuclear material samples of different enrichment.

Keywords

• Non-destructive assay
• HPGe detector
• Monte Carlo calculations
• Nuclear material samples