The International Criticality Safety Benchmark Evaluation Project (ICSBEP) Handbook contains criticality safety benchmark specifications that have been derived from experiments performed at various critical facilities around the world. Thoroughly peer-reviewed by the NEA’s Technical Review Group for ICSBEP, the benchmark specifications are intended for use by criticality and safety analysts as well as nuclear data evaluators to validate calculational techniques and data.
The latest, 2022-2023 Handbook edition, features nine volumes of evaluated criticality safety benchmark data. These volumes span approximately 80 000 pages and contain 598 evaluations with benchmark specifications for 5 159 critical, near-critical or subcritical configurations, 49 criticality alarm placement/shielding configurations with multiple dose points for each, and 238 configurations which have been categorised as fundamental physics measurements that are relevant to criticality safety applications.
New additions to the Handbook:
- One benchmark for fundamental physics;
- Three criticality alarm placement shielding benchmarks;
- Nine critical, near-critical or subcritical benchmarks.
Among them, the Molybdenum-sleeve experiments in a UO2 fuel lattice performed at Sandia National Laboratory, pictured on the front cover of the Handbook.
The DICE search and analysis tool included in the Handbook provides advanced features to navigate and optimise the use of the Handbook.
The 2022/23 edition can be downloaded online and physical DVDs will be available in 2025. The DVD or online access can be requested by completing the Handbook request form.
