Simplified modeling and code usage in the PASC-3 code system by the introduction of a programming environment

A brief description is given of the PASC-3 (Petten-AMPX-SCALE) Reactor Physics code system and associated UNIPASC work environment. The PASC-3 code system is used for criticality and reactor calculations and consists of a selection from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory AMPX-SCALE-3 code collection complemented with a number of additional codes and nuclear data bases. The original codes have been adapted to run under the UNIX operating system. The recommended nuclear data base is a complete 219 group cross section library derived from JEF-1 of which some benchmark results are presented. By the addition of the UNIPASC work environment the usage of the code system is greatly simplified. Complex chains of programs can easily be coupled together to form a single job. In addition, the model parameters can be represented by variables instead of literal values which enhances the readability and may improve the integrity of the code inputs. (author). 8 refs.; 6 figs.; 1 tab