Uncertainty analysis using Beta-Bayesian approach in nuclear safety code validation

• To meet the 95/95 criterion, the Wilks’ method is identical to the Bayesian approach.
• A prior selection in Bayesian approach is of strong influenced on the code run times.
• It is possible to utilize prior experience to reduce code runs to meet the 95/95 criterion.
• The variation of the probability for each code runs is provided.

Since best-estimate plus uncertainty analysis was approved by Nuclear Regulatory Commission for nuclear reactor safety evaluation, several uncertainty assessment methods have been proposed and applied in the framework of best-estimate code validation in nuclear industry. Among them, the Wilks’ method and Bayesian approach are the two most popular statistical methods for uncertainty quantification. This study explores the inherent relation between the two methods using the Beta distribution function as the prior in the Bayesian analysis. Subsequently, the Wilks’ method can be considered as a special case of Beta-Bayesian approach, equivalent to the conservative case with Wallis’ “pessimistic” prior in the Bayesian analysis. However, the results do depend on the choice of the pessimistic prior function forms. The analysis of mean and variance through Beta-Bayesian approach provides insight into the Wilks’ 95/95 results with different orders. It indicates that the 95/95 results of Wilks’ method become more accurate and more precise with the increasing of the order. Furthermore, Bayesian updating process is well demonstrated in the code validation practice. The selection of updating prior can make use of the current experience of the code failure and success statistics, so as to effectively predict further needed number of numerical simulations to reach the 95/95 criterion.