Radiation shielding

Radiation shielding experiments database (SINBAD)

A new release of the radiation shielding experiments database (SINBAD) was issued in 2007. Currently the SINBAD database contains compilations for 42 reactor shielding, 27 fusion neutronics and 15 accelerator shielding experiments. This work is jointly carried out by the Radiation Safety Information Computational Center (RSICC) and the NEA Data Bank. Data for 84 experiments has been collected. The major emphasis has so far been on fission reactor shielding. Facilities used for measurements have now been closed down and there was an urgent need to preserve the data. Data for fusion blanket neutronics represents are also considered, the rest being made up of accelerator shielding experiments. More data sets are in the process of being identified for future release. Emphasis will be on quality of the experiments and new compilations will address cases not yet sufficiently covered by the present set.

Abstracts of the data compiled in SINBAD, can be found also in:

• SINBAD reactor shielding benchmark experiments
• SINBAD accelerator shielding benchmark experiments
• SINBAD fusion neutronics benchmark experiments

The database of shielding experiments (SINBAD) ( web page hosted by the RSICC) is maintained as a basis for computer code, model and nuclear data validation exercises. 

For more detailed information consult the indices of the experiments sorted by shielding material, facility, originating establishment and summary descriptions of the SINBAD evaluations carried out at the NEA Data Bank. The full information should be requested through the Data Bank Computer Program Service) (Search for 'SINBAD') 

Recent articles are the following (2005):

• I. Kodeli, E. Sartori and B.L.  Kirk: Recent Accelerator Experiments Updates in SINBAD (Shielding Integral Benchmark Archive Database)
• I. Kodeli, E. Sartori and B. Kirk: SINBAD Shielding Benchmark Experiments Status and Planned Activities, The American Nuclear Society’s 14th Biennial Topical Meeting of the Radiation Protection and Shielding Division, Carlsbad New Mexico, USA, 3-6 April 2006.

The following benchmarks have been released:

SATIF Expert Group Meetings

Shielding Aspects of Accelerators, Targets and Irradiation Facilities (SATIF). Information about the meetings of this expert group are maintained on a separate page: www.nea.fr/html/science/egsaatif/ A list server for e-mail discussion amongst SATIF members is available. To join, send an e-mail to SATIF-request@nea.fr

9th International Conference on Radiation Shielding (ICRS-9)
This conference was the 9th in the series and was held at Tsukuba, Japan in 17-22 October, 1999. It was attended by about 250 participants. About 220 papers were presented in 30 sessions. Four keynote talks covered the following topics: 

1. Radiation Shielding for Fission Reactors, 
2. Radiation Shielding for Fusion Reactors, 
3. Radiation Shielding for Accelerators, 
4. Overview of Radiation Shielding Research. 

Three papers dealt specifically with the work programme of the NSC:

• Radiation Shielding Activities at the OECD/Nuclear Energy Agency
• NEA Organised Validation of Multi-Dimensional Transport Codes and Cross-Section Sets Used Presently in Reactor Shielding
• Shielding Experimental Benchmark Storage, Retrieval, and Display System

Among the topics presented one concerned radiation skyshine. This subject has been discussed at different occasions within the Nuclear Science activities. The need for validation of methods and codes was recognised, but because of lack of available experimental data this project was not started. Two papers presented at ICRS9 on this subject were particularly impressive as they reported measurements of the neutron and gamma skyshine carried out under an ISTC project in the Kazakhstan steppe near Semipalatinsk using the RA and IVG.1M reactors. Such data, if released, would be an excellent basis for an international study. It is suggested that steps be undertaken to obtain this data for a study and for inclusion into the SINBAD database.

The proceedings of this conference are available from the Atomic Energy Society of Japan as a special issue of the Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, Supplement-1, March, 2000 (ISSN 022-3131).

10th International Conference on Radiation Shielding  (ICRS-10) and Radiation Protection and Shielding Topical (RPS-2004) - 21st Century Challenges in Radiation Protection and Shielding, Funchal, Madeira, 9-14 May 2004.

The topics covered by these conferences were:

• Accelerator Shielding
• Activation and Induced Radioactivity
• Aircraft Dosimetry Issues
• Build-up Factor, Albedo and Point Kernel Methods/Applications
• Discrete Ordinates and Related Topics
• Exposure Evaluation and Radiation Protection
• Fission Reactor Shielding
• Fuel Cycle Facility Shielding
• Fusion Reactor Shielding
• Impact of Radiation and Radioactivity to Environment
• Industrial Applications of Radiation
• Medical Applications of Radiation
• Monte Carlo Method and Applications
• Nuclear Data for Shielding
• Penetration and Duct Streaming
• Radiation Detection and Measurement
• Radiation Dosimetry
• Radiation Shielding in Aeronautics and Space Missions
• Radiobiology Issues
• Shielding Design
• Shielding Experiment
• Skyshine
• Source Term Evaluation
• Transportation & Storage of Radioactive Materials
• Visualization and User Interface

The Conference Proceedings were published as volumes 115 and 116 (2005) of the journal Radiation Protection Dosimetry, ISSN 0144-8420, Oxford Journals.

The 2006 Biennial Radiation Protection and Shielding Topical Meeting (RPS 2006) was held from 2-5 April 2006 at Carlsbad, New Mexico, USA

The 11th International Conference on Radiation Shielding  (ICRS-11) and Radiation Protection and Shielding Topical (RPS-2008) is scheduled for 13-18 April 2008 at Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, Georgia, 2005.

For more information, please contact Dr. Enrico Sartori (sartori@nea.fr)