AZTUSIA: A new application software for Uncertainty and Sensitivity analysis for nuclear reactors

Highlights: • AZTUSIA is a new tool to perform sensitivity and uncertainty analysis. • Parametric and non-parametric analysis can be performed with AZTUSIA. • AZTUSIA includes scatter, cobweb and histogram plots to facilitate analysis. • AZTUSIA calculates correlation coefficients for global sensitivity measures. The AZTLAN Platform project is a Mexican national initiative which aims to have a platform for analysis and design of nuclear reactors. In order to enhance the AZTLAN Platform with Uncertainty and Sensitivity (U&S) capabilities, the AZTUSIA (AZtlan Tool for Uncertainty and SensItivity Analysis) code has been developed to perform U&S analysis. The main characteristics and capabilities of AZTUSIA are briefly described together with some verification exercises. The versatility of the AZTUSIA code has been used to analyze a transient of a BWR-5 with the SIMULATE 3-K code. An artificial perturbation has been caused for creating a more challenging case and to demonstrate the capabilities of an extended interface in which AZTUSIA can be easily adapted to other codes outside AZTLAN Platform. The U&S analysis conducted using the AZTUSIA code reflect, as expected, the impact of uncertain parameters and all capabilities of the tool are demonstrated. It is possible to assess the influence of uncertainty in the calculations and to distinguish trends and readily group and/or separate results by means of scatter and cobweb color plots. As a main conclusion, a new tool has been developed allowing U&S analysis. It is foreseen to continue increasing the tool capabilities.