SCONE Guide
SCONE Verification Notice
SCONE is a research-oriented code with a smaller user base than MCNP, OpenMC, or SERPENT. Our examples are intended as educational guidance. For authoritative syntax, physics options, and nuclear data requirements, consult the official documentation.
SCONE Examples
Overview and Key Patterns
Example Pages
SCONE examples are organized into four pages. Each uses correct block-style syntax derived from the verified BEAVRS PWR benchmark.
- Simple Examples — Fuel pin cell, bare sphere approximation
- Reactor Examples — 17×17 assembly lattice, core structure (BEAVRS-based)
- BEAVRS Benchmark — Full-core PWR model; see MIT BEAVRS documentation for reference
- Shielding Examples — Fixed-source slab and cylinder (conceptual; MCNP better for deep penetration)
Key Block-Style Patterns
SCONE uses block-style syntax. These snippets show the core patterns. No geometry cartesian, material N temperature=..., settings blocks with mode, or ... end terminators.
Physics package (criticality)
type eigenPhysicsPackage;
pop 100000; active 300; inactive 200; XSdata ce; dataType ce;
collisionOperator { neutronCE { type neutronCEstd; } }
transportOperator { type transportOperatorDT; }Geometry block
geometry {
type geometryStd; boundary (0 0 0 0 0 0); graph { type shrunk; }
surfaces {
fuelR { id 1; type zCylinder; radius 0.39218; origin (0.0 0.0 0.0); }
boxSq { id 5; type zSquareCylinder; origin (0.0 0.0 0.0); halfwidth (0.63 0.63 0.0); }
}
cells {
fuel { type simpleCell; id 10; surfaces (-1); filltype mat; material UO2-31; }
core { type simpleCell; id 17; surfaces (-5); filltype uni; universe 31000; }
}
universes {
root { id 1; type rootUniverse; border 5; fill u<1424>; }
lat { id 1424; type cellUniverse; cells (17); }
pin31 { id 31000; type pinUniverse; radii (0.39218 0.40005 0.45720 0.0); fills (UO2-31 Helium Zircaloy Water); }
}
}Active tally (fission map)
activeTally {
fissionRate { type collisionClerk; response (fission); fission { type macroResponse; MT -6; }
map { type multiMap; maps (xax yax);
xax { type spaceMap; axis x; grid lin; N 64; min -0.63; max 0.63; }
yax { type spaceMap; axis y; grid lin; N 64; min -0.63; max 0.63; }
}
}
}Nuclear data
nuclearData {
handles { ce { type aceNeutronDatabase; aceLibrary /path/to/your.aceXS; } }
materials {
Water { temp 600; composition { 5010.06 7.9714E-06; 1002.06 7.7035E-06; 8016.06 2.4673E-02; } }
UO2-31 { temp 600; composition { 8016.06 4.5853E-02; 92235.06 7.2175E-04; 92238.06 2.2253E-02; } }
}
}Best Practices
Start with simple geometries and add complexity gradually. Validate each component before combining. Use consistent naming and document assumptions. Replace aceLibrary paths with your cross-section library. For large models, verify syntax against the official SCONE documentation.