Coupling of Origen2.1 and Top-Mc for the Simulation and Experimental Validation of Spent Nuclear Fuel Cask Shields

Coupling of Origen2.1 and Top-Mc for the Simulation and Experimental Validation of Spent Nuclear Fuel Cask Shields | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Coupling of Origen2.1 and Top-Mc for the Simulation and Experimental Validation of Spent Nuclear Fuel Cask Shields Mohammad Amin Kiani, Mohammad Outokesh, Seyed Javad Ahmadi, Mahdi Rezaeian, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8080586/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 10 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study presents a combined computational-experimental approach to the design of radiation shields for dual-purpose casks in dry storage systems. The shield performance was simulated using Origen2.1 and Top-Mc software and validated against laboratory experiments and MCNP simulations. Initially, using the ORIGEN2.1 code, the neutron and gamma fluxes resulting from nuclear mechanisms were calculated at different cooling time. The results indicate that Cm-244 element after 5 years from discharge, accounts over 98.2% and 29.9% and 97.6% of the spontaneous fission, (α,n) reaction mechanism and total neutron source, respectively. To evaluate and select the optimal radiation shield, dry storage casks containing 12 spent fuel assemblies were simulated using the Top-Mc software. By incorporating the radioactivity data obtained from ORIGEN2.1 calculations, a suitable composite shield for the transportation and dry storage of spent fuel was developed. The simulations demonstrated that a 10 cm-thick composite shield containing 20% boron carbide reduces the surface dose of the cask to 1.98 mSv/h, complying with the radiation safety requirements of SSR-6 standards. For benchmarking purposes, the designed neutron shield was fabricated and experimentally tested in the Tehran Research Reactor (TRR) against a thermal neutron spectrum. The shield achieved 99.69% thermal neutron absorption at a thickness of 0.99 cm. Furthermore, SEM imaging and elemental mapping analysis of the fabricated nanocomposite confirmed the uniform dispersion of filler particles within the polymer matrix. Experimental results were also simulated using MCNP code, revealing a maximum deviation of less than 7% between simulated and actual test conditions. Physical sciences/Energy science and technology Physical sciences/Engineering Physical sciences/Materials science Physical sciences/Physics Dual-purpose cask Polymer Spent nuclear fuel Radiation shielding Neutron Gamma Neutron shield Composite Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 12 Mar, 2026 Reviews received at journal 10 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 03 Feb, 2026 Reviews received at journal 08 Dec, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 05 Dec, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 03 Dec, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 30 Nov, 2025 Editor invited by journal 20 Nov, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 19 Nov, 2025 First submitted to journal 13 Nov, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8080586","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":555286854,"identity":"9e7e11d5-be18-4ce6-aef4-5bf9fcfd0d35","order_by":0,"name":"Mohammad Amin 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The shield performance was simulated using Origen2.1 and Top-Mc software and validated against laboratory experiments and MCNP simulations. Initially, using the ORIGEN2.1 code, the neutron and gamma fluxes resulting from nuclear mechanisms were calculated at different cooling time. The results indicate that Cm-244 element after 5 years from discharge, accounts over 98.2% and 29.9% and 97.6% of the spontaneous fission, (α,n) reaction mechanism and total neutron source, respectively. To evaluate and select the optimal radiation shield, dry storage casks containing 12 spent fuel assemblies were simulated using the Top-Mc software. By incorporating the radioactivity data obtained from ORIGEN2.1 calculations, a suitable composite shield for the transportation and dry storage of spent fuel was developed. The simulations demonstrated that a 10 cm-thick composite shield containing 20% boron carbide reduces the surface dose of the cask to 1.98 mSv/h, complying with the radiation safety requirements of SSR-6 standards. For benchmarking purposes, the designed neutron shield was fabricated and experimentally tested in the Tehran Research Reactor (TRR) against a thermal neutron spectrum. The shield achieved 99.69% thermal neutron absorption at a thickness of 0.99 cm. Furthermore, SEM imaging and elemental mapping analysis of the fabricated nanocomposite confirmed the uniform dispersion of filler particles within the polymer matrix. Experimental results were also simulated using MCNP code, revealing a maximum deviation of less than 7% between simulated and actual test conditions.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Coupling of Origen2.1 and Top-Mc for the Simulation and Experimental Validation of Spent Nuclear Fuel Cask Shields","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-12-05 16:21:55","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8080586/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2026-03-12T12:48:55+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-02-10T09:12:59+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"158665933093416812181126247082331877835","date":"2026-02-03T09:39:02+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-12-08T17:45:15+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"10397408312002008879382385182544673286","date":"2025-12-06T02:45:54+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-12-03T17:28:31+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-12-01T04:44:58+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2025-11-20T12:12:00+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-11-19T13:37:04+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Scientific Reports","date":"2025-11-13T05:47:46+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"scientific-reports","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scirep","sideBox":"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Scientific Reports","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Scientific Reports","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"666a76da-b8f2-42be-aae8-025edc780308","owner":[],"postedDate":"December 5th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[{"id":59099035,"name":"Physical sciences/Energy science and technology"},{"id":59099036,"name":"Physical sciences/Engineering"},{"id":59099037,"name":"Physical sciences/Materials science"},{"id":59099038,"name":"Physical sciences/Physics"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-05-14T15:38:43+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-12-05 16:21:55","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8080586","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8080586","identity":"rs-8080586","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}