Investigation, design and analysis of a fast neutron facility on beam port 4 at the University of Texas MARK II TRIGA Reactor

Graduate students in the Mechanical Engineering department at the University of Texas at Austin have designed and modeled a fast neutron prompt-gamma activation analysis facility as part of a new course introduced in the graduate program titled 'The Design of Nuclear Systems.' The students were responsible for creating a design concept as well as implementing and modeling the concept to ensure its safety and functionality. The purpose of the class was to give graduate students the independence to create a project of their own vision, but to do so in a collaborative and formal manner as will be necessary in their future work. The fast neutron PGAA facility was successfully designed and computational models have been analyzed to display benefits of the fast neutron facility compared to the thermal neutron PGAA facility that also exists at The University of Texas at Austin. (author)