ANS Joint Benchmark Effort

Comment from the Executive Committee June, 2004 (B. Ganapol)

This is the first NEWSLETTER of the Joint Benchmark Committee (JBC) of the American Nuclear Society (ANS). To share information with those who may be interested in the activities of the JBC, the JBC Executive Committee is issuing a newsletter twice a year. Our intent is to advertise the JBC as a possible resource and to make our services available to the ANS membership and colleagues concerned with all phases of nuclear science and technology.

In 1999, I.K. Shumays, from the ANS Mathematics and Computation Division, suggested the ANS benchmark activities in the Reactor Physics (RPD), Mathematics and Computation (MCD) and Radiation Protection and Shielding (RP&SD) Divisions of the ANS, be gathered under one National committee. The JBC consists of an Executive Committee of 3 members from each of the 3 divisions with one member from each division serving one year as a rotating Chair every 3 years. In addition, ANS members may join as affiliate members. The purpose of the JBC is to promote all aspects of “benchmarking” of nuclear systems—from the development of benchmarks to their application, documentation and dissemination. In this age of accountability and continuous improvement, verification of computational tools and validation of data are an essential element of the nuclear enterprise—whether it be for nuclear reactor design and safety assessment or for undergraduate and graduate education. Reactor physics benchmark experiments form the foundation of our current nuclear industry providing the necessary data for current and new reactor design and shielding concepts. Computational benchmarks provide verification of deterministic and probabilistic neutron transport and diffusion calculations as well as isotopic evolution in burnup investigations and dose determinations in shielding applications. The JBC encourages the development of new experimental and computational benchmarks and the continuing discussion of their appropriate use in research and application of nuclear energy.

RSICC and NEADB are hosting the new Joint Benchmark Committee's recommendations for benchmarks in the areas of Reactor Physics, Shielding, and Math/Computation. This undertaking is reliant on the needs and user feedback in the community.


The SINBAD shielding benchmarks and pending benchmarks for the ANS JBC are in benchmarks.

• International Reactor Physics Benchmark Experiments Project (IRPhE)
  Summary of the Third Meeting, Budapest, 9-10 May 2002



• IRPhE - International Reactor Physics Experiments Database



• JBC Minutes; New Orleans, LA ANS Winter 2003



• JBC Minutes; San Diego, CA ANS Summer 2003



• JBC Minutes; Washington, DC ANS Winter 2002



• JBC Minutes; Hollywood, FL ANS Summer 2002



• JBC Board Membership 2002



• NEA Data Bank Computer Program Service



• Preservation of Integral Experiments Data Needs, Methods, Formats



• Reactor Physics Division/Joint Benchmark Committee Approved Benchmarks






Last Modified: 16-June-2006