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A geometry conforming isogeometric method for the self-adjoint angular flux (SAAF) form of the neutron transport equation with a discrete ordinate (SN) angular discretisation

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Title: A geometry conforming isogeometric method for the self-adjoint angular flux (SAAF) form of the neutron transport equation with a discrete ordinate (SN) angular discretisation
Authors: Kophazi, J
Eaton, M
McClarren, R
Latimer, C
Item Type: Journal Article
Abstract: This paper presents the application of isogeometric analysis (IGA) to the spatial discretisation of the multi-group, self-adjoint angular flux (SAAF) form of the neutron transport equation with a discrete ordinate (SN) angular discretisation. The IGA spatial discretisation is based upon non-uniform rational B-spline (NURBS) basis functions for both the test and trial functions. In addition a source iteration compatible maximum principle is used to derive the IGA spatially discretised SAAF equation. It is demonstrated that this maximum principle is mathematically equivalent to the weak form of the SAAF equation. The rate of convergence of the IGA spatial discretisation of the SAAF equation is analysed using a method of manufactured solutions (MMS) verification test case. The results of several nuclear reactor physics verification benchmark test cases are analysed. This analysis demonstrates that for higher-order basis functions, and for the same number of degrees of freedom, the FE based spatial discretisation methods are numerically less accurate than IGA methods. The difference in numerical accuracy between the IGA and FE methods is shown to be because of the higher-order continuity of NURBS basis functions within a NURBS patch as well as the preservation of both the volume and surface area throughout the solution domain within the IGA spatial discretisation. Finally, the numerical results of applying the IGA SAAF method to the OECD/NEA, seven-group, two-dimensional C5G7 quarter core nuclear reactor physics verification benchmark test case are presented. The results, from this verification benchmark test case, are shown to be in good agreement with solutions of the first-order form as well as the second-order even-parity form of the neutron transport equation for the same order of discrete ordinate (SN) angular approximation.
Issue Date: Feb-2020
Date of Acceptance: 7-Sep-2019
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/73656
DOI: 10.1016/j.anucene.2019.107049
ISSN: 0306-4549
Publisher: Elsevier Masson
Start Page: 1
End Page: 16
Journal / Book Title: Annals of Nuclear Energy
Volume: 136
Sponsor/Funder: Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (E
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Funder's Grant Number: EP/R511547/1
EP/H500227/1
Keywords: Science & Technology
Technology
Nuclear Science & Technology
Isogeometric analysis
SAAF
Discrete ordinates
Variational principle
SPECTRAL ELEMENT METHOD
PETROV-GALERKIN METHODS
DIFFUSION EQUATION
FINITE-ELEMENTS
1ST-ORDER FORM
NURBS
REFINEMENT
Energy
0915 Interdisciplinary Engineering
0299 Other Physical Sciences
Publication Status: Published online
Online Publication Date: 2019-09-30
Appears in Collections:Mechanical Engineering
Faculty of Engineering



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