REVIEW OF SHIELDING COMPUTATION METHODOLOGY WITH EMPHASIS ON THE EXPERIENCE IN THE NATIONAL CENTER OF NUCLEAR SAFETY AND RADIATION CONTROL

A review is given about shielding computational methods starting from a simple exponential formula and ending up with very sophisticated 3-D computational methods dealing with complicated geometries and perform ing dow rate calculations at deep penetrations. This review aims to il lustrate: (a) the types of problems that can be treated with simple me thods within reasonable accuracy; (b) the sources of errors in the cal culated and measured dose rates; (c) the methods that can be used to i mprove the accuracy of routinely used methods using either experimenta l results or results of complicated calculational methods; (d) the req uirements and the experience needed to run sophisticated codes; and (e ) finally, to demonstrate the experience in the National Center of Saf ety and Radiation Control in the area of shielding calculations. This review is also intended to show the requirements for a reactor shieldi ng, accelerator shielding and gamma-unit shielding.