Testing of inelastic scattering data by integral measurements in 238U spherical shells

Using the reference fast neutron field generated by the NISUS assembly, the ratios of reaction rates with and without shells of depleted uranium of up to 3 cm thickness have been measured. From these measurements the transmission factors of such shells, at various energies, have been derived. The neutron spectra at the centre of the facility have been calculated with and without the shells and from these spectra, reaction rates and transmissions have been obtained. From sensitivity studies for the experiments it has been shown that the results are mainly sensitive to the 238U inelastic scattering cross sections. The measured data have been compared with the calculated values using three multigroup cross section sets. (U.K.)