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0 Example: Create Simple Geometries Using the Visual Editor

This section will contain step by step instructions for creating an input file using the Visual Editor. For this example, a cube within a sphere will be created. Figure 1-1 displays the finished geometry.

Figure 1-1 Final Result of Geometry Creation Example.

Start the Visual Editor. Use Windows Explorer to bring up the Visual Editor. Figure 1-2 shows a view of the initial screen. Notice that the main menu functions are shown across the top and that each plot window has its own set of plot commands.

Figure 1-2 Startup Configuration for the Visual Editor

Figure 1-3 Creating the Sphere Surface Creating a Sphere On the Visual Editor Main Menu, click on Surface. This will open the Surface Panel. Figure 1-3 shows the result. On the Surface Panel, note that the Surface Type is the default type which is a sphere centered at the origin (so). Type 50 in the 1st Coefficient Box (the Radius). Click on Register on the Cell Panel Menu.

Figure 1-4 Display of Created Spherical Surface The Visual Editor will display a large red circle once Register is selected. Surfaces are red in the Visual Editor if they are not currently assigned to a cell. Figure 1-4 shows the circle displayed on both plots. Creating the Planes To create the cube inside the sphere, six plane surfaces must be created. Specifically, two px, two py, and two pz planes. A px plane is a plane normal to the X axis, intersecting it at a point on the axis. Similarly, a py plane is a plane normal to the Y axis and a pz plane is a plane normal to the Z axis. On the Surface Panel Menu Bar, click on SurfacePlanepx. Figure 1-4 illustrates this step. On the Surface Panel, Type 20 in the first coefficient box (as indicated in Figure 1-5) Click on Register.

Figure 1-5 Sphere and First px Plane Create the other planes. Type -20 (note that it is negative 20) in the first coefficient box to set the distance D. Click Register Click on SurfacePlanepy. Click on Register. (using the previous value of -20) Type 20 (note that it is positive 20) in the first coefficient box to set the distance D. Click on Register. Click on SurfacePlanepz. Click on Register. (using the previous value of -20) Type -20 (note that it is negative 20) in the first coefficient box to set the distance D. Click on Register.

Figure 1-6 Sphere and Six Plane Surfaces shows the result.

Figure 1-6 Sphere and Six Plane Surfaces Click Close to close the Surface Panel.

Figure 1-7 Selecting First Surface in Creation of Cube Cell Create the Cube Cell A cell is defined by selecting surfaces to bound a region and then choosing a point that is entirely inside or entirely outside all the surfacesto set the sense for the surfaces. On the Main Menu, Click on Cell to open the Cell Panel. On the Left Plot Window, Drag the mouse across Surface 2 as indicated by the dashed line in Figure 1-7. Notice that the line showing Surface 2 becomes blue once it has been selected. Drag across the other three plane surfaces on the Left Plot window.

Figure 1-8 Using Both Plot Windows to Select Cube Surfaces To specify a cube, six surfaces must be specified. Only four surfaces are visible from the Left Plot window. It is necessary to use the Right Plot window to specify the py surfaces. Figure 1-8 illustrates this concept. Drag across the two py surfaces in the Right Plot Window as indicated by the dashed lines in Figure 1-8. A point must be selected to indicate whether the cell will be inside these surfaces or outside them. For more information, see the discussion with Figure 1-13 Defining the Point to Determine Cell Sense. Click in the center of the square on either Plot Window. In the message box on the cell panel, it should say Point Accepted.

Figure 1-9 Define Point, Paste and Register Once a region has been defined, it may be either added (with Paste) to the area that will be included in the cell or subtracted (with Cut) from it. In this case, the region that has been defined will be added to the cell so Paste is the correct choice. Click Paste on the Cell Panel menu to add this region to the cell definition. Click Register on the Cell Panel menu to create the cell. Figure 1-10 shows the cube cell as Cell 1. Click the Cell Number toggle to turn on Cell Numbers (as indicated in Figure 1-10) The lines on the square turn green when pasted and then return to red when registered. They are still red because a cell exists inside the surfaces but not outside them.

Figure 1-10 Display of Cube Cell. Create the Outside World All space must be defined in a valid MCNP geometry so there must always be an Outside World. In this case, the outside world is all the space outside the sphere. Drag across the sphere surface. Click INSIDE the sphere as indicated in Figure 1-11. For more information, see the discussion with Figure 1-13 Defining the Point to Determine Cell Sense.

Figure 1-11 Create Sphere Cell The outside world will consist of all area that is not inside the sphere. This may be defined by pasting all the area outside the sphere or by cutting out the area within the sphere. In this case, the area within the sphere will be cut out. Click Cut. Click Register. Figure 1-12 Cube Cell and Outside World shows the result.

Figure 1-12 Cube Cell and Outside World Defining the Point to Determine Cell Sense. When creating cells, the point determines the cell sense. When the bounding surface is a sphere, defining the point within the center of the sphere means that the cell will include the area inside the sphere. Similarly, if the point is defined by clicking a location outside the sphere, the cell will include the area outside the sphere (but not inside). While this is fairly obvious for spheres, it is more complex with planes forming shapes such as a cube. In Figure 1-13, choosing Point 1 can specify the inside of the sphere. It does NOT specify the outside of the cube. Point 1 specifies an area that is: Right of Surface 2, Below Surface 6, Above Surface 7, and Right of Surface 3. Choosing Point 1 causes the sense (direction) of Surface 3 to incorrectly be defined as right of surface 3.

Figure 1-13 Defining the Point to Determine Cell Sense Similarly, Point 2 can specify the inside of the sphere. It does NOT specify the outside of the cube. Choosing Point 2 to define the outside of the cube incorrectly causes the sense of Surface 6 to be defines as below surface 6. Point 3 can define the inside of the cube or the inside of the sphere. Point 4 can define the outside of the sphere but NOT the outside of the cube. To choose the area between the sphere and the cube, the user must first define a cell that includes the inside of the sphere (paste) and then subtract the area inside the cube (cut). Creating the Cell Inside the Sphere and Outside the Cube As discussed above, this cell will be created by first creating the region inside the sphere and then cutting out the region inside the cube.

Figure 1-14 Paste Inner Sphere Drag the mouse across the sphere surface to select it. Click inside the sphere (it does not matter whether it is inside the cube or not). Click Paste on the Cell Panel. This will paste the interior of the sphere into the cell definition.

Figure 1-15 Cut Cube from Sphere Drag the mouse across all six planes (use the right plot to get the py planes). This step is illustrated by the dashed lines in Figure 1-15. Click inside the cube to establish the sense as inside the cube. Click on Cut on the Cell Panel. This will cut away the area inside the cube from the area inside the sphere. Click on Register. Cell three has now been created and consists of the area inside the sphere but outside the cube.

Figure 1-16 Geometry with Three Cells Created Figure 1-16 shows the completed cells. Valid MCNP cells are shown in black.