This report follows experiments on the behavior of helium when interacting with shock waves and the physical radioactive evidence following.

Abstract: "Indium was bombarded with protons in the energy range 2 to 6 Bev. Cross sections are reported for the (p,px+), (p,pn), and (p,p') reactions, as well as those for the formation of Be-7 and several neutron deficient isotopes of cadmium and indium. It was found that the (p,pn) yield increases slowly in the energy range 2 to 6 Bev, while the (p,px+) and (p,p') yields are approximately constant. The variation of the (p,pn) and (p,px+) yields with target thickness is discussed. The yields of several isomeric levels are correlated with their nuclear spin."

"In the past ten years quantities of alpha-, beta-, gamma- and neutron-emitting isotopes handled in enclosures have increased from microcuries to kilocuries. Contaminated-atmosphere problems have increased accordingly. Developments at Berkeley are reviewed with particular emphasis on recent equipment, viz: a multiple-purpose gas scrubber and a total-capture system for slug-dissolver off gas."

Abstract: Experimentally measured promp-neutron decay constants for sub-critical systems are of considerable value as normalization data for calculations of prompt-neutron time constants. A method of measuring these decay constants with a pulsed neutron source, neutron detector and multi-channel time-delay analyzer has been developed and used on a number of fast-spectrum subcritical systems. An analysis of this method based on the one-energy group, one-delayed-neutron group reactor kinetic equations is presented and discussed. The curve of neutron flux versus time predicted by the kinetic equations is compared with the observed curve obtained with a 13.1-cm. diam. enriched-uranium sphere to indicate the application and limitations of the analysis.

Abstract: A description is given of the design and operation of a windowed autoclave system employed in the study of corrosion by pressurized hot water. The device has been used to obtain time-lapse motion pictures of the swelling and rupture of deliberately defected zirconium-clad uranium specimens. A method is described by which corrosion rates were calculated from pressure and temperature measurements. A typical set of pictures taken during a test is presented, and corrosion rates are reported for uranium-0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 w/o zirconium alloys subjected subjected to 600 F water.

Abstract: The nonmetallic inclusions in both as-reduced and fabricated dingot uranium have been studied for comparison with those in ingot uranium. Special attention was paid to the hydride for the purpose of determining the amount and distribution in the various types of uranium. The types and distribution of other inclusions were also studied. It was found that the dingot uranium was of a higher quality than ingot uranium and was comparable to as-reduced derby uranium on the basis of over-all inclusion count. The hydrogen content in dingot uranium, however, was found to be appreciably higher than in either ingot or derby uranium.

This report describes the design, construction, and application of an electrical analogue for solution of the steady state problem. Teledeltos paper (an electrically conductive paper) was used to construct this analogue, and although this and other sheet materials has been used for heat transfer analogues in several previous investigations, it is believed that the present work is unique in the application of Teledeltos paper to three dimensional problems of radial symmetry.

A report about thermal conductivity measurements which are made on uranium, uranium-1.5 w/o zirconium, and zircaloy 2 for a program that aims to determine the feasibility of using clad specimens. Results from the measurements indicate that the difference in thermal conductivity values between uranium and uranium-1.5 w/o zirconium is less than the anticipated 5 percent.

This report is the result of a study to develop heat-resistant fin materials possessing a high thermal conductivity for air radiators. Since an economical and commercially feasible product was desired, the investigation was restricted primarily to a study of electroplated copper, clad copper, and copper alloys. Sheet material 0.008 to 0.010 in. thick was evaluated for fabricability and for metallurgical stability and thermal conductivity at 1500°F. From the results of the rests it was concluded that: (1) electroplates were unsatisfactory; (2) clad-copper fins possessing a thermal conductivity of 50% of that of copper are commercially feasible; (3) copper-aluminum alloys possessing a thermal conductivity approaching that of copper at 1500°F are possible. Service tests of clad copper and the copper-aluminum alloys indicate that the choice of materials will be dictated by the requirements of the radiator, since each presents some unique problems.

A monthly report summarizing work perform by Babcock & Wilcox personnel for the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. Initial contacts were made at National Reactor Testing Station and Hanford Works, design conditions for the proposed reactor vessels were reviewed, estimates of heating rates caused by radiation and the pluggage of fuel passages were computed, and design parameters for the LMFRE were established.

From abstract: "An ionization chamber of the integrating type was built that could detect a tritium leak rate of 10[^-13] cc per second within a few minutes, after a gas-collecting period of 16 hours. Electronic circuitry was avoided by using a quartz fiber voltmeter to indicate the rate of discharge of the chamber."

An abrasive cutoff machine design, based upon a previous model, (1) was undertaken to provide for the sampling of radioactive material. the design objective was; first, to provide samples for metallographic examination, second, to provide samples for physical and mechanical property testing, and, third, to meet the following design requirements: 1. Remote operation. 2. Airborne contamination control. 3. Radioactive waste collection. 4. Remote maintenance.

An inconel loop circulating fluoride fuel (62 1/2 make [unintelligible] NaF, 12 1/2 make [unintelligible] ZrF4, 25 make [unintelligible] UF4, 92 [unintelligible] enriched) was operated at 1485°F with a temperature difference of about 35°F in the Low Intensity Test Reactor for 645 hr. For 475 hr of this time the reactor was at full power, and fission power generation in the loop was 2.7 kw, with a max length power density of 0.4 kw/cc. The total volume of fuel was 1290 cc (5.o kg [unintelligible] and the the flow through the irradiated section was 8.6 fps (Reynolds number 5500). The loop has been disassembled and has been examined by chemical and metallographic analyses. Ne acceleration of corrosion of decomposition of fuel by irradiation was noted, although deposition of fission-product ruthenium was absorbed. Ne mass transfer of Inconel was formed, and the corrosive [unintelligible] was general and relatively light. The average corrosive generation, in the usual form of subsurface yields, was 0.5 [unintelligible], the maximum penetration was 2 to 3 miles.

The General Electric Company is designing and building a 180,000 kilowatt nuclear power plant for the Commonwealth Edison Company at a site near the confluence of the Kankakee and Des Plaines Rivers in Grundy County, Illinois, about 47 miles southwest of Chicago. The plant will be known as the Dresden Nuclear Power Station, and will employ a nuclear reactor of the dual-cycle boiling water type.

Plutonium sheet of uniform thickness and good surface can be made by the extrusion of a tube which is then split and flattened. This report describes the equipment and the operating conditions for making sheet 0.005 to 0.055 in. thick with areas up to 24 in. square.

The spatial and spectral distributions of the neutrons from 14-Mev neutron interactions with Ta, Bi, and U have been obtained using nuclear emulsion detectors in conjunction with a neutron collimator. The space-integrated neutron spectrum has been obtained for Be by means of a sphere experiment.

Chloride-induced stress-corrosion cracking has been encountered in the Homogeneous Reactor Test during the preliminary testing. The rector is constructed of austenitic stainless steels. It is unique in that it will operate at 250 to 300 C with an aqueous uranyl sulfate solution fuel containing 200 to 500 ppm of dissolved oxygen. The cracking has occurred in a secondary system used for detecting leaks in the flanged joints of the primary systems and in the grooves of flanges in the primary systems. Tubing used in the leak-detection system was found to be contaminated with chloride introduced during manufacture.

A second test of the mockup of the Zircaloy - stainless steel transition joint as used in the HRT reactor vessel has been completed. The joint and bellows have now received 104 thermal cycles and 148 mechanical deflections. The joint and bellows have functioned properly; corrosion damage has been negligible, except for a small area on the bellows which has undergone pitting attack. Long-term runs with uranyl sulfate solutions of the concentration proposed or use in the HRT have shown the solution to be stable at 300 C. Substituting heavy water for normal water caused no difference in either corrosion or solution stability. Experiments in which chromic acid was used to pretreat stainless steel have shown that, under certain conditions, the pretreated film can exist in uranyl sulfate solutions at flow rates in excess of the critical velocity for relatively long periods of time. The practicability of using titanium inserts in high turbulent areas of stainless steel loops to minimize corrosion has been demonstrated. The corrosiveness of beryllium sulfate solutions containing dissolved uranium trioxide has been determined at 250 and 280 C. Laboratory studies with regard to stress-corrosion cracking have shown that high stressed type 347 stainless steel will crack …

A system for concentrating uranyl nitrate solutions was designed and installed in the Thorex Pilot Plant. A total of 16,060 g of uranium was concentrated in the system in 68 batch runs. A total of 14,400 g total uranium (14.180 g U/sup 233/) was recovered as product suitable for shipment. Uranium loss to the evaporator condensate was 0.03% of the total uranium processed. The material balance across the system was 98.4%. The average concentration of uranium in the evaporator feed solution was 29 g/liter; the average concentration in the evaporated solution was 298 g U/liter and in the product solution was 199 g/liter. Radiation readings of bottles containing product solutions were taken with a hard-shell cutie pie immediately after each run, and these readings ranged from 35 to 1100 mr/hr. The radiation levels of the bottles of product solution shipped averaged 78 mr/hr. Bottles of product solution reading in excess of 300 mr/hr, maximum allowable for shipment. were reprocessed in the second-cycle solvent extraction system (Thorex) and reconcentrated. The products from seven runs had radiation levels in excess of 300 mr/hr at the time of concentration, or the activities had grown to that level by the time of shipment. The …

The following temperature measurement tabulation consists of two parts. Part I lists all HRT thermocouples, their location, the junction box thru which the leads pass, and their termination, if on an instrument. Part II lists all temperature read out instruments and their location. A total of 577 thermocouples are listed in this tabulation. The roughly 77,000 ft of wire used in connecting them up cost $6,799. Temperatures are read on 24 instruments. Cost of these was approximately $15,688. Accessories such as patch panels, conduit, disconnects, etc., used in installing the thermocouples cost about $8,069. Total cost for material and instruments for temperature measure comes to approximately $30,556.

An estimate has been made of the gamma radiation levels at access holes in the HRT Shielding when the plugs have been removed to service or maintain the reactor. In every case the radiation level at the holes was greater than the maximum permissible exposure rate of 0.3 roentgens per week. The radiation through the holes can be attenuated to some extent by flooding the reactor cell up to the flange to be disconnected. However, shielding would still be required and it is more practical to provide a small additional shield thickness to compensate for the moderate attenuation that could be gained from flooding.

When it was discovered that two HRT flange bolts of a lot of 16 spares contained serious cracks, a program was launched to (1) determine the cause for the cracking, and (2) find methods for non-destructive testing the remainder of the 672 bolts shipment, a large portion of which had been installed in the HRT. Concurrently, inspection of 8 ferrules removed from an HRT flange revealed hairline cracking in 4 of them. Magnaglo, a magnetic particle inspection method using a fluorescent dye, proved to be the only definitive method for inspecting the bolts. The evidence gathered on the bolts pointed to quench cracking as the cause for the defects. Nothing abnormal was disclosed in regard to the bolt material. The alloy and heat treatment at present prescribed for the HRT bolts and ferrules are considered suitable. However, recommendations are made for plating with zinc, instead of formerly prescribed cadmium, to a thickness of 0.0002 inch, followed by a hydrogen relief treatment and a final bichromate chemical dip.

The horizontal and vertical power distribution for a 5 x 7 fuel element loading of the TSR is presented. (auth)

Short reports to the members of the Nuclear Cross Section Advisory Group from three groups: (1) High voltage group; (2) Fast chopper time-of flight spectrometer; and (3) Electronuclear research division.