Solution of the Lambda modes problem of a nuclear power reactor using an h-p finite element method

Abstract

Lambda modes of a nuclear power reactor have interest in reactor physics since they have been used to develop modal methods and to study BWR reactor instabilities. An h-p-Adaptation finite element method has been implemented to compute the dominant modes the fundamental mode and the next subcritical modes of a nuclear reactor. The performance of this method has been studied in three benchmark problems, a homogeneous 2D reactor, the 2D BIBLIS reactor and the 3D IAEA reactor. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.