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Some preliminary results obtained from experiments designed to test the feasibility of the Venetian Blind, direct energy-conversion concept are discussed. A two-stage unit was built and tested and found to have an overall efficiency of 65% for an energy spread of from 330 to 1000 eV. The calculated efficiency was 69% leaving a 4% discrepancy. This discrepancy seems to result from the slight transparency in the backward direction of the ribbons of the converter. (auth)

A four-phase study was designed for the evaluation of social, economic and environmental tradeoffs in the analysis of nuclear power plant siting options. The results of the first phase of this work are reported. This phase included: examination of environmental statements and guidelines and intervenors' statements to determine the aignificant criteria to be analyzed; development of a questionnaire with design options for two chosen sites; the answering of the questionnaire by environmentalists, high school students, and businessmen; analysis of the survey results; and an explanation of the mechanics of making the analysis of a given design on a given site. (LCL)

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Approximately 40 mixed oxide materials were prepared and characterized primarily as to their thermal expansion and meltingpoint behavior. Of particular interest were those materials which were stable, had melting points in excess of 1,400 deg C, and had low thermal expansions. (auth)

Pressure-volume, uniaxial strain loading, uniaxial stress loading to failure, and ultrasoric velocity detemninations have been performed on samples of Kayenta sandstone from the site of the Mixed Company event. Hydrostatic pressure of 3 GPa produces about 23% volume compression, with 9% permanent compaction remaining upon unloading. The pressure-volume data indicate that crush-up of porosity begins between 200 and 300 MPa. In uniaxial strain loading, the sandstone loads directly to the vicinity of the failure envelope, then parallels that envelope to the highest confining pressure (480 MPa). At strain rates of about 10/sup -4//s, the loading path in uniaxial strain up to 200 MPa is coincident in pressure-volume space with the shock-loading path (at a strain rate of about 10/sup 5//s) observed on samples from the same block. The permanent compaction, after unloading under conditions of uniaxial strain from 625 MPa mean pressure, is about 3.8%. Uniaxial stress loading indicates a brittle-ductile transition between 400 and 500 MPa mean pressure. Between 100 and 500 MPa mean pressure, the slope of the failure envelope is decreased consideably with respect to that below 100 MPa and between 500 and 900 MPa. This plateau, which is not present in the failure envelope for material …