Comparison of MCNP trademark and MAVRIC for the case of a radiography experiment with thick-walled multi-layered shielding and Co-60 source

The application of calculation methods to demonstrate an effective radiation shielding requires validation with appropriate measurements. Experimental data on the shielding of high-energy gamma radiation representing the situation of a thick-wall container with lead insert and significant self-shielding of the inventory is not publicly available. Therefore the shielding efficiency of multi-layered shielding (Pb, polyethylene) of a container was measured using an industrial Co-60 point source and a precisely calibrated measuring system for different shielding situations and measuring positions outside of the shielding. The calculations were performed using the codes MCNP trademark and MAVRIC. The deviations of calculated and experimental data are constant within the uncertainty of the experimental set-up, no distance dependent drift was identified.