SUPERDAN: computer programs for calculating the Dancoff factor of spheres, cylinders, and slabs

Abstract

Resonance integral calculations for a reactor lattice require the use of the Dancoff factor. In the past, tables and approximate expressions have been used to obtain this value. In order to reduce the uncertainty in the use of approximations and to avoid the inconvenience of tables, a series of computer programs has been written to calculate the Dancoff factor. Three computer programs have been prepared, one each for infinitely long cylinders, spheres, and infinite slabs. The program for cylinders includes corrections for the effect of partial shadowing of a rod by adjacent rods and for the effect of clad surrounding the rods. The effect of clad is also considered in the slab program. Although these corrections can be applied to sphere arrays, they have not been included in the sphere program. It was felt that the infrequent use of spherical arrays did not justify the additional time and effort to include these corrections.