Constrained sensitivity theory

In sensitivity and uncertainty analysis of to-be-built reactors it is customary to use k-reset sensitivity functions - accounting for the combined effects of the change (or uncertainty) in the input data and of the alteration in some design variable applied to maintain criticality. Critical reactors are usually subjected to several constraints, such as power peaking factor and breeding ratio constraints, in addition to the criticality constraint. Perturbation theory formulations which can account, simultaneously, for several constraints both in critical reactors and in source driven systems (such as radiation shields and blankets of fusion devices) are presented. All the sensitivity and uncertainty analyses of source driven systems carried out so far used unconstrained sensitivity functions despite the fact that such systems can be also subjected to a variety of constraints