Memorandum presenting a preliminary investigation to determine the effects of alpha-particle bombardment on the creep rate of aluminum wire at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. The alpha radiation from an 85-millicurie polonium source appeared to decrease slightly the creep rate of the aluminum.

"A method is described by which the total temperature of the gases at the combustion-chamber outlet of a ram-jet engine may be determined from the loss in total pressure measured across the combustion chamber. A working chart is presented by means of which the ratio of the total temperature of the gases at the combustion-chamber outlet to the total temperature of the gases at the combustion-chamber inlet may be determined from the measured loss of total pressure across the combustion chamber and the known values of air flow, total pressure, and total temperature at the combustion-chamber inlet. Values of total-temperature ratio across the combustion chamber of a 20-inch ram jet were obtained in the Cleveland altitude wind tunnel over a range of pressure altitudes from 6000 to 15,000 feet" (p. 1).

"It is shown that for velocities slightly in excess of sonic, the position of detached shock wave located in front of a given body at zero angle of attack may be estimated theoretically to a reasonable degree of accuracy. In case of bodies of revolution the result was simple, but for two-dimensional bodies, pressure coefficient varies with Mach number, and slight difficulty appears. Theory developed compares favorably with available experimental data" (p. 1).

Report presenting the optical principle of the NACA ultrahigh-speed camera. Simplified sketches are included illustrating the optical principle and main design features of the camera, but without minor design details. A detailed description of the camera is provided as well as some sample photographs taken with the camera.

Report presenting a study of the characteristics of a large-scale triangular wing to include the effects of section modifications. The wing in this report is the same as the one in the previous report but features various degrees of rounding of the wing leading edge and wing maximum thickness rather than having sharp edges. Results regarding the effects of airfoil section modifications, visible trailing vortices, and surveys in the extended chord plane are provided.

Report presenting an investigation of the low-speed characteristics of a 25-foot span triangular wing with an aspect ratio of 2. the airfoil section of the wing was a symmetrical double wedge with 5-percent maximum thickness at 20-percent chord. Results regarding the longitudinal characteristics, lateral characteristics, and directional characteristics are provided.

Report presenting a method for calculating the drag, in a real compressible fluid and at subcritical Mach numbers, of airfoil sections at arbitrary life coefficients and of bodies of revolution at zero angle of attack. The values of drag coefficient are compared with values obtained for the same configurations by other methods. The differences between the results are found to lie withint he limits of accuracy of current experimental techniques.

Memorandum discussing four related methods for the study of compressible flow by means of the linear perturbation theory for the case of three-dimensional flow with axial symmetry. A general method which includes the other is also discussed briefly. In each case, the properties of the compressible flow are obtained from those of a corresponding incompressible flow.

Investigations were conducted to determine effectiveness of refrigerants in increasing thrust of turbojet engines. Mixtures of water an alcohol were injected for a range of total flows up to 2.2 lb/sec. Kerosene was injected into inlets covering a range of injected flows up to approximately 30% of normal engine fuel flow. Injection of 2.0 lb/sec of water alone produced an increase in thrust of 35.8% of rate engine conditions and kerosene produced a negligible increase in thrust. Carbon dioxide increased thrust 23.5 percent.

"The results of an experimental investigation made for the purpose of developing suitable jet-engine nacelle designs for a high-speed medium bomber are presented. Two types of nacelles were investigated, the first enclosing two 4000-pounds-thrust jet engines and a 65-inch-diameter landing wheel and the second enclosing a single 4000-pounds-thrust jet engine. Both types of nacelles were tested in positions underslung beneath the wing and centrally located on the wing" (p. 1).

"An investigation has been made at large scale of the characteristics of highly swept wings. Data were obtained at several angles of sideslip on wings having angles of sweep of plus or minus 45 degrees, plus or minus 30 degrees, and 0 degrees. The airfoil sections of the wings varied from approximately NACA 0015 at the root to NACA 23009 at the tip. Each wing was investigated with flaps under flection, partial-span split flaps deflected 60 degrees, full-span split flaps defected 60 degrees and split-flap-type ailerons deflected plus or minus 15 degrees" (p. 1).