Input Files — Overview
ADS-IDAC is supported by a structured collection of plain-text input files that together define the nuclear plant model, operator knowledge bases, and program executive control parameters needed for code execution. All input files are located under the Input/ directory of the project (the directory given as --project-dir), organized into the categories below. The complete tree is described in Directory Structure.
Generic Input File Format
All ADS-IDAC input files follow a common set of formatting conventions:
- One datum per line — each input value occupies its own line
- Keyword headers — sections begin with a keyword string that identifies the data block (e.g.,
Action_Taker,Number_of_biased_parameters) - Count integers before lists — when a variable-length list of items follows, an integer specifying the count must appear first
- No spaces in strings — string parameters (names, labels) must not contain spaces; use the underscore character
_as a substitute (e.g.,SG_LevelnotSG Level) - Case-sensitive — all keywords, parameter names, and string values are case-sensitive and must match exactly the identifiers used in cross-referenced files (e.g.,
ControlPanel.txt,Procedures.txt)
Input Consistency
String identifiers used in one input file (e.g., a control_volume_name in ControlPanel.txt) must exactly match the corresponding identifier in all referencing files. Case mismatches and spelling differences will cause errors during input file processing. Review err messages.txt after every simulation run to confirm all input files were processed without errors.
Input File Categories
Crew — Action Taker
The Action Taker fulfills the role of the reactor operator. All crew interactions with the plant model are executed by the Action Taker through control panel indicators, alarms, and controls. The ten Action Taker input files define static behavior factors, the operator's knowledge base, and the diagnostic/reasoning engine parameters. Files are located in Input/Crew/ActionTaker/.
Crew — Decision Maker
The Decision Maker fulfills the role of the Senior Reactor Operator, directing the Action Taker and selecting high-level goals and problem-solving strategies. The Decision Maker knowledge base uses an identical file structure to the Action Taker, with the OAT prefix replaced by ODM. Files are located in Input/Crew/DecisionMaker/.
Procedures
Procedure files define the ADS-IDAC representations of the plant's written emergency and abnormal operating procedures, plus mental procedures triggered by knowledge-based beliefs. Six file types govern procedure content, procedure step definitions, and the three types of branching rules (action time, control value, and mental procedure activation time). Files are located in Input/Crew/Procedures/.
Plant Hardware and Simulation Control
These files define the interface to the plant model, hardware and support system reliability, initiating events, and the simulation control parameters. They are located in Input/Indicators/, Input/System/, Input/HardwareReliability/, Input/SupportSystemsReliability/ and Input/Scheduler/. The optional ZiniADS.txt options file is read from the launch directory.
Complete Input File Reference Table
| # | File Name | Directory | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ActionTaker.txt | Input/Crew/ActionTaker/ | Static Action Taker behavior parameters: action time multiplier, scan queue limit, memorized information use, skip thresholds, communication time, troubleshooting and procedure use probabilities, goal/strategy tendencies |
| 2 | KB_OAT_Bias_Factors.txt | Input/Crew/ActionTaker/ | Simulates failed control panel instrumentation: additive errors, proportional errors, stuck instrumentation, and threshold-limited instruments visible to the Action Taker |
| 3 | KB_OAT_Diagnosis_Actions.txt | Input/Crew/ActionTaker/ | Maps diagnostic imbalance events to candidate Action Taker actions; includes reset delay times and action priority ordering |
| 4 | KB_OAT_Event_Matrix.txt | Input/Crew/ActionTaker/ | Fuzzy logic diagnostic event matrix: maps symptom patterns to event classifications (normal, AOO, DBA) for the Action Taker's diagnosis engine; all events should have corresponding mental beliefs |
| 5 | KB_OAT_HardWired_Diagnosis.txt | Input/Crew/ActionTaker/ | Defines mental beliefs for the Action Taker: activation criteria (evidence thresholds), branch probabilities, associated mental procedures, and priority levels |
| 6 | KB_OAT_Maneuver_Actions.txt | Input/Crew/ActionTaker/ | Knowledge-based maneuver action definitions available to the Action Taker for non-proceduralized responses |
| 7 | KB_OAT_Safety_Parameters.txt | Input/Crew/ActionTaker/ | Critical safety function parameters and their acceptance thresholds monitored by the Action Taker |
| 8 | KB_OAT_Scanned_Parameters.txt | Input/Crew/ActionTaker/ | Defines the set of control panel parameters included in the Action Taker's periodic scan queue; governs which plant indicators are actively monitored |
| 9 | KB_OAT_System_Decomposition.txt | Input/Crew/ActionTaker/ | System functional decomposition used by the Action Taker for knowledge-based system-level diagnosis |
| 10 | KB_OAT_Time_Constrained_Input.txt | Input/Crew/ActionTaker/ | Time-constrained action parameters governing the time constraint loading PIF for the Action Taker |
| 11 | DecisionMaker.txt | Input/Crew/DecisionMaker/ | Static Decision Maker behavior parameters: same structure as ActionTaker.txt; troubleshooting and procedure use probabilities are active for the Decision Maker |
| 12 | KB_ODM_Bias_Factors.txt | Input/Crew/DecisionMaker/ | Decision Maker failed/biased instrumentation definitions |
| 13 | KB_ODM_Diagnosis_Actions.txt | Input/Crew/DecisionMaker/ | Maps diagnostic events to Decision Maker candidate actions; includes reset delay times |
| 14 | KB_ODM_Event_Matrix.txt | Input/Crew/DecisionMaker/ | Decision Maker fuzzy logic diagnostic event matrix |
| 15 | KB_ODM_HardWired_Diagnosis.txt | Input/Crew/DecisionMaker/ | Decision Maker mental beliefs: activation criteria, branch probabilities, mental procedure references, and priority levels |
| 16 | KB_ODM_Maneuver_Actions.txt | Input/Crew/DecisionMaker/ | Decision Maker knowledge-based maneuver action definitions |
| 17 | KB_ODM_Safety_Parameters.txt | Input/Crew/DecisionMaker/ | Critical safety parameters monitored by the Decision Maker |
| 18 | KB_ODM_Scanned_Parameters.txt | Input/Crew/DecisionMaker/ | Decision Maker control panel periodic scan queue |
| 19 | KB_ODM_System_Decomposition.txt | Input/Crew/DecisionMaker/ | Decision Maker system functional decomposition |
| 20 | KB_ODM_Time_Constrained_Input.txt | Input/Crew/DecisionMaker/ | Time-constrained action parameters for the Decision Maker |
| 21 | Procedures.txt | Input/Crew/Procedures/ | Master procedure list: defines procedure names, types (EOP, AOP, mental), and entry condition cross-references; all procedure steps must be listed here |
| 22 | ZProcedure_[name]_[step].txt | Input/Crew/Procedures/ | Individual procedure step files (one per step): defines initial action, action expectations, non-response action, baseline skip probabilities, step type, and control variable references |
| 23 | ZProcedure_MPBG_[name]_[step].txt | Input/Crew/Procedures/ | Mental procedure step files: procedural actions activated by mental belief states from the operator knowledge base |
| 24 | MentalProcedureActivationTimeBranches.txt | Input/Crew/Procedures/ | Weibull distribution parameters (α, β, u) for branching on mental procedure activation time; references valid mental beliefs in HardWired_Diagnosis.txt |
| 25 | ProcedureActionTimeBranches.txt | Input/Crew/Procedures/ | Weibull distribution parameters for branching on procedure step action timing; specifies number of branches and associated time quantiles |
| 26 | ProcedureControlValueBranches.txt | Input/Crew/Procedures/ | Discrete control value options and associated branch probabilities for operator control input variability (e.g., valve throttle positions) |
| 27 | ControlPanel.txt | Input/Indicators/ | Defines all control panel indicators (parameters, alarms, component states), controls (state controllers, fine adjustment controllers, setpoint controllers), and scanning priorities visible to the ADS-IDAC operator model |
| 28 | Initiating_Event.txt | Input/System/ | Defines initiating events: specifies RELAP interactive variable assignments and activation conditions for equipment failures or disturbances that initiate the accident scenario |
| 29 | RELAP5_channels.txt | Input/System/ | Cross-references ADS-IDAC interactive control channel names to RELAP5 input deck card numbers (800 to 999 series); links the operator model to the thermal-hydraulic model |
| 30 | SystemReliability.txt | Input/HardwareReliability/ | Hardware reliability branching parameters: Beta distribution α and β values for initial failure, recovery, and conditional failure probabilities; specifies trigger events |
| 31 | ZCtrlPar.txt | Input/Scheduler/ | Simulation executive control parameters: sequence truncation time, probability cutoff value, and time step control |
| 32 | Consultant.txt | Input/Crew/Consultant/ | Consultant role parameters. No Consultant operator is instantiated in current simulations |
| 33 | Calculation_Aid.txt, StaticPIF.txt | Input/Crew/ | Polynomial calculation aids available to the crew model; static performance influence factors |
| 34 | <support system>.fta | Input/SupportSystemsReliability/ | Support system fault trees, one file per support system |
| 35 | ZiniADS.txt | launch directory | Optional options file: option=value lines with the command-line option names; values on the command line take precedence |