@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ std::string& strtrim(std::string& s);
 
 char* strtrim(char* c_str);
 
+std::string to_element(std::string const& name);
+
 void to_lower(std::string& str);
 
 int word_count(std::string const& str);
 
@@ -239,8 +239,7 @@ read_ce_cross_sections(const std::vector<std::vector<double>>& nuc_temps,
       already_read.insert(name);
 
       // Check if elemental data has been read, if needed
-      int pos = name.find_first_of("0123456789");
-      std::string element = name.substr(0, pos);
+      std::string element = to_element(name);
       if (settings::photon_transport) {
         if (already_read.find(element) == already_read.end()) {
           // Read photon interaction data from HDF5 photon library
 
@@ -227,8 +227,7 @@ Material::Material(pugi::xml_node node)
     // If the corresponding element hasn't been encountered yet and photon
     // transport will be used, we need to add its symbol to the element_dict
     if (settings::photon_transport) {
-      int pos = name.find_first_of("0123456789");
-      std::string element = name.substr(0, pos);
+      std::string element = to_element(name);
 
       // Make sure photon cross section data is available
       LibraryKey key {Library::Type::photon, element};
 
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #include "openmc/search.h"
 #include "openmc/settings.h"
 #include "openmc/simulation.h"
+#include "openmc/string_utils.h"
 #include "openmc/thermal.h"
 #include "openmc/tallies/tally.h"
 
@@ -68,7 +69,7 @@ void collision(Particle* p)
         data::nuclides[p->event_nuclide_]->name_ << ". Energy = " << p->E_ << " eV.";
     } else if (p->type_ == Particle::Type::photon) {
       msg << "    " << reaction_name(p->event_mt_) << " with " <<
-        data::nuclides[p->event_nuclide_]->name_ << ". Energy = " << p->E_ << " eV.";
+        to_element(data::nuclides[p->event_nuclide_]->name_) << ". Energy = " << p->E_ << " eV.";
     } else {
       msg << "    Disappeared. Energy = " << p->E_ << " eV.";
     }
 
@@ -26,6 +26,12 @@ char* strtrim(char* c_str)
 }
 
 
+std::string to_element(std::string const& name) {
+  int pos = name.find_first_of("0123456789");
+  return name.substr(0, pos);
+}
+
+
 void to_lower(std::string& str)
 {
   for (int i = 0; i < str.size(); i++) str[i] = std::tolower(str[i]);
 
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include "openmc/search.h"
 #include "openmc/settings.h"
 #include "openmc/simulation.h"
+#include "openmc/string_utils.h"
 #include "openmc/tallies/derivative.h"
 #include "openmc/tallies/filter.h"
 #include "openmc/tallies/filter_delayedgroup.h"
@@ -1274,8 +1275,7 @@ score_general_ce(Particle* p, int i_tally, int start_index,
           if (i_nuclide >= 0) {
             // Find the element corresponding to the nuclide
             auto name = data::nuclides[i_nuclide]->name_;
-            int pos = name.find_first_of("0123456789");
-            std::string element = name.substr(0, pos);
+            std::string element = to_element(name);
             int i_element = data::element_map[element];
             auto& heating {data::elements[i_element].heating_};
             auto i_grid = p->photon_xs_[i_element].index_grid;
Original file line number	Diff line number	Diff line change
`@@ -26,6 +26,12 @@ char* strtrim(char* c_str)`
`26`	`26`	`}`
`27`	`27`
`28`	`28`
	`29`	`+std::string to_element(std::string const& name) {`
	`30`	`+ int pos = name.find_first_of("0123456789");`
	`31`	`+ return name.substr(0, pos);`
	`32`	`+}`
	`33`	`+`
	`34`	`+`
`29`	`35`	`void to_lower(std::string& str)`
`30`	`36`	`{`
`31`	`37`	`for (int i = 0; i < str.size(); i++) str[i] = std::tolower(str[i]);`