ADGEN: an automated adjoint code generator for large-scale sensitivity analysis

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6986893

Pin, F G; Oblow, E M; Horwedel, J E; Lucius, J L

Sensitivity analysis is an established methodology used by researchers in almost every field to gain essential insight into design and modeling studies and performance assessments of complex systems. Statistical methods and perturbation analysis have traditionally been used to perform sensitivity analyses. When applied to large-scale studies (e.g., nuclear reactor design, reactor safety, radioactive waste isolation, etc.), these conventional methods have serious drawbacks: not only is their cost prohibitive, but they generally cannot handle all parameters involved in a study. Deterministic methods, on the other hand, such as the adjoint formulation, allow systematic and quantitative screening of the parameter space, thus providing all the information necessary to perform a complete sensitivity analysis including the inverse problem. These methods, however, have not enjoyed the widespread use they deserve, mainly because of the large initial analytical investment they require (e.g., to calculate the large number of derivatives necessary to set up the adjoint equations). This paper describes a new automated system, named ADGEN, which makes use of the strengths of computer calculus to automate the costly and time-consuming calculation of derivatives in FORTRAN computer codes and automatically generate adjoint solutions of computer codes.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6986893
• Report Number(s): CONF-8711195-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States) Journal Volume: 55
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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