Institution: | 1. Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Old Dominion University, 5115 Hampton Blvd., Norfolk, VA 23529, USA;2. NASA Langley Research Center, Mail Stop 188E, Hampton, VA 23681, USA;3. Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Tennessee, 211 Pasqua Engineering Building, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA;4. Department of Physics, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA;5. Scientific Investigation and Development (SID), 9608 West Lyttleton Lane, Knoxville, TN 37922, USA;6. Physics Department, University of Houston, 1 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002, USA;g Department of Physics, Christopher Newport University, 1 University Place, Newport News, VA 23606, USA;h Department of Chemical Engineering, P.O. Box 519, MS 2505, Prairie View A&M University, TX 77446, USA |
Abstract: | The protection of astronauts and instrumentation from galactic cosmic rays and solar particle events is one of the primary constraints associated with mission planning in low earth orbit or deep space. To help satisfy this constraint, several computational tools have been developed to analyze the effectiveness of various shielding materials and structures exposed to space radiation. These tools are now being carefully scrutinized through a systematic effort of verification, validation, and uncertainty quantification. In this benchmark study, the deterministic transport code HZETRN is compared to the Monte Carlo transport codes HETC-HEDS and FLUKA for a 30 g/cm2 water target protected by a 20 g/cm2 aluminum shield exposed to a parameterization of the February 1956 solar particle event. Neutron and proton fluences as well as dose and dose equivalent are compared at various depths in the water target. The regions of agreement and disagreement between the three codes are quantified and discussed, and recommendations for future work are given. |