# OpenMC validation with experiment? **URL:** \ **Category:** User Support\ **Created:** [November 2, 2021, 2:11am UTC](https://openmc.discourse.group/t/openmc-validation-with-experiment/1514 "2021-11-02T02:11:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![huak95](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/openmc.discourse.group/huak95/32/1442_2.png) [@huak95](https://openmc.discourse.group/u/huak95)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2021, 2:11am UTC](https://openmc.discourse.group/t/openmc-validation-with-experiment/1514/1 "2021-11-02T02:11:58Z")
Have anyone had OpenMC simulation validation with the experiment? Such as [Graphite Exponential Pile](http://canes.mit.edu/graphite-exponential-pile) or other neutronics problem that has decent experimental results and procedures. Thank you very much. ---
**Author:** ![gridley](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/openmc.discourse.group/gridley/32/1064_2.png) [@gridley](https://openmc.discourse.group/u/gridley)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2021, 6:18pm UTC](https://openmc.discourse.group/t/openmc-validation-with-experiment/1514/2 "2021-11-02T18:18:08Z")
This might help: [https://docs.openmc.org/en/stable/publications.html#benchmarking](https://docs.openmc.org/en/stable/publications.html#benchmarking) There was a master’s thesis on a graphite pile OpenMC model last year: [https://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/127302](https://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/127302) ---
**Author:** ![huak95](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/openmc.discourse.group/huak95/32/1442_2.png) [@huak95](https://openmc.discourse.group/u/huak95)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2021, 6:58am UTC](https://openmc.discourse.group/t/openmc-validation-with-experiment/1514/3 "2021-11-03T06:58:55Z")
The master’s thesis on a graphite pile OpenMC model looks great. Does he provide an OpenMC code for benchmark? ---
**Author:** ![gridley](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/openmc.discourse.group/gridley/32/1064_2.png) [@gridley](https://openmc.discourse.group/u/gridley)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2021, 8:55am UTC](https://openmc.discourse.group/t/openmc-validation-with-experiment/1514/4 "2021-11-03T08:55:07Z")
Not to my knowledge! ---
**Author:** ![AlexandreTrottier](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/openmc.discourse.group/alexandretrottier/32/1357_2.png) [@AlexandreTrottier](https://openmc.discourse.group/u/AlexandreTrottier)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2021, 10:45pm UTC](https://openmc.discourse.group/t/openmc-validation-with-experiment/1514/5 "2021-11-04T22:45:42Z")
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) has simulated one of the cases from the ZED2-HWR-EXP-001 criticality benchmark and compared to MCNP. Results where very good. The benchmark description provides an MCNP5 model. ---
**Author:** ![paulromano](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/openmc.discourse.group/paulromano/32/486_2.png) [@paulromano](https://openmc.discourse.group/u/paulromano)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2021, 10:42pm UTC](https://openmc.discourse.group/t/openmc-validation-with-experiment/1514/6 "2021-11-05T22:42:08Z")
I’ll also add that there are a whole collection of benchmark models from ICSBEP available [here](https://github.com/mit-crpg/benchmarks) that are based on experiments. ---
**Author:** ![huak95](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/openmc.discourse.group/huak95/32/1442_2.png) [@huak95](https://openmc.discourse.group/u/huak95)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2021, 3:46am UTC](https://openmc.discourse.group/t/openmc-validation-with-experiment/1514/7 "2021-11-06T03:46:03Z")
> [@paulromano](#): > > ICSBEP ICSBEP benchmark models don’t provide an experiment method. (Or I don’t know where to find it?) Thus, my professor won’t allow me to use it’s as a validation model. lol ---
**Author:** ![AlexandreTrottier](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/openmc.discourse.group/alexandretrottier/32/1357_2.png) [@AlexandreTrottier](https://openmc.discourse.group/u/AlexandreTrottier)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 11:56am UTC](https://openmc.discourse.group/t/openmc-validation-with-experiment/1514/8 "2021-11-12T11:56:52Z")
What do you require? My recollection is that there are ZED-2 related experiments which have been published in the past. The methods have not changed much over time. ---
**Author:** ![yrrepy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/openmc.discourse.group/yrrepy/32/2365_2.png) [@yrrepy](https://openmc.discourse.group/u/yrrepy)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2022, 11:08pm UTC](https://openmc.discourse.group/t/openmc-validation-with-experiment/1514/9 "2022-04-27T23:08:30Z")
ICSBEP and IRPHE in my view are the gold standard for evaluating Monte Carlos. The PDFs included have detailed descriptions of the reactors/piles/experiments, they go through fairly exhaustive analysis and descriptions on the uncertainties of different parameters and variations in them. These benchmarks are commonly used to evaluate nuclear data libraries and cross-validate different MCs. At operational reactors, validation of a reactor model and code is done comparing the calculations to purpose done measurements. Sometimes some of this is published (OPAL, IIRC Watts Bar). But are generally less exhaustively detailed.