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Testing, Verifying, and Validating SAPHIRE Versions 6.0 and 7.0 (NUREG/CR-6688)

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Publication Information

Manuscript Completed: September 2000
Date Published: October 2000

Prepared by:
C.L. Smith, S.T. Wood, K.L. Kvarfordt, P.H. McCabe,
R.D. Fowler, C.L. Hoffman, KLD. Russell, INEEL
E. Lois, NRC

Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory
Idaho Falls, ID 83415-3129

E. Lois, NRC Project Manager

Prepared for:
Division of Risk Analysis and Applications
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, DC 20555-0001

NRC Job Code L1429

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Abstract

This report describes a testing-based verification and validation (TV&V) process created for SAPHIRE (System Analysis Program for Hands-on Integrated Reliability Evaluation), version 6.0 and subsequent versions. The TV&V process comprises a set of specially designed software models used to test each major version of SAPHIRE (such as versions 6.0 and 7.0) and individual interim releases (6.1, 6.2, etc.).

SAPHIRE is a probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) software tool developed at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) for use by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). SAPHIRE was created to provide a means for depicting a nuclear power plant's response to an accident; evaluating and quantifying the risk represented by those models; and performing sensitivity analyses associated with the attributes of the models. SAPHIRE is best suited for quantifying sequences leading to core damage (Level 1 PRA); estimating radioactive releases to the environment (Level 2 PRA); and, to a limited degree, to quantify risk in terms of evaluating release consequences to the environment and the public (Level 3 PRA).

The TV&V process was engineered to provide a dynamic verification and validation process for testing all releases and versions of SAPHIRE. The process allows for an increase in the software quantification quality to a high level, as dictated by the nature of the testing models.

This document comprises a main report and three appendices. The main report presents an overall perspective on the TV&V approach; specifics on the testing, verification, and validation process; and the results of the TV&V process. Appendix A provides the background, including the history of SAPHIRE; prior verification and validation efforts; the SAPHIRE code development control process; and minimum PC requirements. Appendix B details the test reference descriptions. Appendix C presents test results from a sample case.

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, March 25, 2021