Assessment of ICARE/CATHARE V1mod1 and V1 applications to full scale studies

The objective initially assigned to the ICARE/CATHARE V1mod1 validation task was to draw a synthesis of the ability of the code to correctly reproduce the main physical processes occurring during severe accidents. Therefore, both the domain in which the ICARE/CATHARE V1mod1 predictions are satisfactory (good confidence level) and, conversely, the identification of the main code deficiencies have to be highlighted. After a brief recall of the validation strategy and the current status of the work, this paper summarizes the main lessons which were drawn by IPSN from the validation activity which was conducted during the last two years (in 2000-2001) in the particular framework of the Users' Club (both IPSN and several foreign partners were involved in this task, under the management of IPSN). (authors)