Performing statistical checks in MCNP5

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around performing statistical checks in MCNP5, specifically focusing on the use of the PRINT card and mesh tallies. Participants seek assistance with syntax, troubleshooting errors, and plotting results from MCNP simulations, covering both theoretical and practical aspects of using the software.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the placement and format of the PRINT card for statistical checks in MCNP5, specifically with F4mesh tallies.
  • Another participant suggests that the PRINT command is detailed in the user manual and mentions that it should be placed in the data section, with options for printing specific tables.
  • A participant reports that their MCNP crashes when adding the PRINT card, indicating a possible syntax error in their input file.
  • Suggestions are made to check for common syntax errors, such as extra or missing blank lines, line length, and non-accepted characters.
  • Several participants request assistance with plotting color legends for mesh tallies and discuss methods for outputting data for visualization.
  • Another participant describes their experience using a 3D mesh tally over a lattice structure in MCNPX, noting issues with obtaining non-zero results in their output files.
  • One user mentions successfully using FMESH in MCNP6 but encounters issues with obtaining results in MCNP5.
  • Another participant asks about creating a batch file to automate running simulations with varying energy bins, seeking guidance on how to implement this in MCNP.
  • Multiple users report installation issues with MCNP6, specifically related to missing library files, and seek advice on resolving these errors.
  • A participant expresses a need for help in rebinning energy bins for a neutron surface source using MCNP5, asking for recommendations on the appropriate tally to use.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various challenges and seek solutions, but there is no consensus on specific troubleshooting steps or methods for statistical checks, as multiple approaches and experiences are shared without resolution.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention specific versions of MCNP (MCNP5 and MCNPX) and various configurations for mesh tallies, indicating that solutions may depend on the version and specific setup used. Some discussions involve unresolved syntax errors and troubleshooting steps that are not universally applicable.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for users of MCNP5 and MCNPX, particularly those involved in simulations requiring statistical checks, mesh tallies, and troubleshooting common errors in input files.

her91
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Hi, I need assistance in performing statistical checks in MCNP5 i.e print table 160. I am not sure where the PRINT card should be placed and the format of it. I am using F4mesh tallies
 
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Hi her91. Welcome to the forum. Always glad to find another MCNP user.

The PRINT command is in the user manual. For MCNP5, you should be able to find it on page 3-149. It goes in the data section. The default is to print everything, so if you just put the command

PRINT

on a line in the data section of your input, you will get all tables. Alternatively you can put the tables you want printed in a list behind the word PRINT. The integer for each kind of table is listed in the manual a few paragraphs after the description of the command.

By default, without putting in a PRINT command, you get a statistical evaluation of tallies. Also, mesh tallies have an extra output file, in addition to the usual output file you get from running an MCNP input.
 
Without using the print card, i get the following tables in the output file
128 disabled
40
100
60
175
126

If i add the print card, in the data section of the MCNP crashes.
 
Ok, debugging your input file remotely through vague hints is not going to work. If your file crashes, you have a syntax error. Round up the usual suspects.
- Read that output file. Understand warnings and error messages.
- Look for extra blank lines. Look for missing blank lines. Exactly one between cells and surfaces. Exactly one between surfaces and data. None inside data.
- Look for lines too long. Remember the 72 character limit.
- Look for non-accepted characters. Tabs are a real pain.

If you post your input file I will have a look.
 
Hello to everybody, i need help from MCNP users.
How i can to plot color legend for tally mesh problems (i.e neutron flux distribution, energy deposition, and so on).
Thank you!
 
I am trying to use a 3D mesh tally over a lattice structure to find MeV/cm^2 using MCNPX v2.7. The MCNP visualizer shows both the mesh tally and the lattice structure in its correct location. I am running in mode P E with an energy cutoff for photon at 0.01 MeV and an ecut off of 0.3 MeV . No other tallys are in the input file. I generate file types of mdata and a mctal. Both of these files however have a matrix of all zeros. I have tried both type 1 and 3 meshes as well as varying the size resolution of the mesh tally.Input file excerpt:

tmesh
rmesh11:e PEDEP
cora11 -25.55 72i 25.55
corb11 -29.96 120i 29.4
corc11 1 60i -41.7
endmd
I was however able to use FMESH to determine MeV/cm^2 using MCNP6.1 using the same geometry and energy cut offs:

*fmesh4:p GEOM=rec ORIGIN=-25.55 -29.95 -41.7
IMESH=25.55 IINTS 73
JMESH=29.4 JINTS 85
KMESH=1 KINTS=61 out=ij

Do you have any suggestions or trouble shooting ideas? I would prefer to run MCNPX to determine this information.
 
Stephan_doc said:
Hello to everybody, i need help from MCNP users.
How i can to plot color legend for tally mesh problems (i.e neutron flux distribution, energy deposition, and so on).
Thank you!

You can plot within the mcnp plotter or outside with an external program such as matlab. I found that you can output mesh tallies as both mdata (binary) and mctal (ASCII) files using PRDMP J J -1.I have a MATLAB code that reads the data into a 3D matrix and then I am able to 3D color plot there.
 
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Hi everyone:
Im trying to use the FMESH card of MCNP5 to obtain axial flux. I simulated an hexagonal reactor core having different enrichments of uranium (see uploaded file). When I run the program, I obtain a good value of keff (1.03941) but the meshtal file have all the values equal to zero. I only obtain values when the mesh is in the origin 0, 0, -50. I do the following in different positions:

Fmesh14:n geom=cyl origin=0 0 -50
imesh=8.77 iints=10
jmesh=100 jints=10
kmesh=1 kints=1
emesh 1 10 out=ij

Please, I need help.
 

Attachments

Are you using a TR card to move the mesh?
 
  • #10
No, I don´t use it. In a TRIGA reactor core simulation I used the same information to move the mesh (I only used "origin" to place the mesh in other location) and it result. In this case I don´t know what's is happening.
 
  • #11
hello,
I am Benali Abdel-Hai one user of MCNP code for simulation in different rescearche in medical physics, I need your help to give me some idea to simulate the DOSE RATE of photon beam and electron beam in external radiotherapie
 
  • #12
Hi experts,

I am using MCNP5 for some calculations, I am pretty new here and I hope you all will help me to solve my problem.

Well, my question is, how do I create a batch file to repeatedly run problems with a same condition but a little change in Energy bin.

For example, say I have an Input like this

Some inputs here...
SDEF POS=0 0 0 PAR=1 ERG=D1
SI1 H 0 4.13E-07 1.00E-02 5.00E-02 1.00E-01 2.00E-01 2.50E-01 3.00E-01
4.00E-01 5.00E-01 6.00E-01 7.00E-01 8.00E-01 1.00E+00 1.20E+00
1.40E+00 1.50E+00 1.60E+00 1.80E+00 2.00E+00 2.20E+00 2.30E+00
2.40E+00 2.60E+00 2.80E+00 3.00E+00 3.40E+00 3.70E+00 4.20E+00
4.60E+00 5.00E+00 5.50E+00 6.00E+00 6.50E+00 7.00E+00 7.50E+00
8.00E+00 8.50E+00 9.00E+00 9.50E+00 1.00E+01 1.10E+01 1.20E+01
1.30E+01 1.40E+01 1.60E+01
SP1 D 0 4.44E-04 4.41E-03 8.60E-03 2.31E-02 1.35E-02 1.44E-02 3.08E-02
3.26E-02 3.35E-02 3.41E-02 3.41E-02 6.72E-02 6.44E-02 6.09E-02
2.89E-02 2.79E-02 5.25E-02 4.83E-02 4.40E-02 2.05E-02 1.95E-02
3.63E-02 3.28E-02 2.95E-02 5.02E-02 3.09E-02 4.12E-02 2.53E-02
1.99E-02 1.90E-02 1.40E-02 1.02E-02 7.49E-03 5.46E-03 3.98E-03
2.89E-03 2.09E-03 1.51E-03 1.09E-03 1.35E-03 7.00E-04 3.61E-04
1.85E-04 1.44E-04 3.80E-05
...some inputs here

And now I want to create a batch file for automatically repeat this problem but with another SI card and other SP card. How should I do?

I hope you all would kindly help me.
 
  • #13
Hi
Help with MCNP6 installation.
I am currently getting the following error in my output.
"bad trouble in subroutine ffetch of xact

cannot find xs library file specified in xsdir "

I have installed MCNP6 before and had the same error. I can't remember how i fixed it.
 
  • #14
her91 said:
Hi
Help with MCNP6 installation.
I am currently getting the following error in my output.
"bad trouble in subroutine ffetch of xact

cannot find xs library file specified in xsdir "

I have installed MCNP6 before and had the same error. I can't remember how i fixed it.

Perhaps you forgot to install the MCNP Data? It has a separate installation exe. If not, just reinstall the MCNP Data portion again, there might be a path setting error.
 
  • #15
Hi Experts,
I am wondering about the problem that I encountered in my research. Suppose I have a neutron surface source with 44 energy bins (from 4.13E-7 to 16.0 MeV). Now I want to rebin this source to 30 Energy bins (also from 4.13E-7 to 16.0 MeV). I intend to use MCNP5 to do this. But I don't know how to do and which tally should I use?

I hope experts from HPS can help me in solving this problem.
 

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