An apparatus was developed for recording internal friction data in such a manner as to circumvent many of the laborious and time-consuming observations and calculations usually associated with these measurements. An optical lever is used and the passage of the beam across the scale is detected by photoconductive cells. The cells are strategically located so that, when their signals are fed through a multichannel switching circuit to the pens of an operation recorder, a plot of the logarithm of the vibrational amplitude versus the number of cycles is recorded on the chart. From the definitmon of the logarithmic decrement, ( delta ), it can be shown that the slope of this curve is - delta . The apparatus is inexpensive and requires a minimum of maintenance. It has been used for accurate determinations of values of delta from below 0.0001 up to 0.3. (auth)

Twenty-three papers are included which were presented at the Conference on Organic Scintillation Detectors. The topics treated range from measurements of organic phosphor properties to liquid and plastic scintillation detectors. Separate abstracts were prepared for each of the papers. (D.L.C.)

BS>Activities are discussed for work done in the preparation of PuO/sub 2/ using the continuous oxalate process, and continuous coprecipitation studies using a uranium-20 wt% plutonium nitrate feed solution. Characterization studies of the PuO/sub 2/ powders indicated that variations in the processing variables can affect the final product. Measurements with the B. E. T. and Innes apparatus confirmed that the specific surface area of the initial batch of the PuO/sub 2/ powder had increased appreciably during storage. Deltatherm differential thermal analysis apparatus was checked out. Procedures were devised for the determination of plutonium and uranium. Sintering studies were continued for pure PuO/sub 2/, and sintering trials were begun for mechanically mixed and coprecipitated PuO/sub 2/ and UO/sub 2/. Metallographic examinations of PuO/sub 2/ sintered pellets revealed a microstructural feature similar to eutectoid structures in alloys. Mechanical packing experiments were carried out using crushed UO/sub 2/ pellets fired to high density. Plasma torch production of UO/ sub 2/ indicates that excellent spheroidization is attained, but central voids were found in the pellets. Reactor physics studies were completed for the analysis of the potential of plutonium as a fuel in near-thermal converter and straight burner reactors. Plutonium was shown to be promising …

None

An extensive parametric study of cesium-filled converters was completed during the quarter. Cesium-filled test units Nos. 2 and 3 were designed and constructed, and Unit 1 is 85% complete. The prototype vacuum thermionic converter, Unit 2B, was subjected to dynamic testing following its failure due to emitter poisoning. The analysis and design of the curium fuel capsule were completed. (auth)

Progress and results from the conceptual design, economic evaluations, and research and development work performed as part of the Nuclear Superheat Project are reported. Developments in conceptual design and program evaluation, fuel technology, materials development, experimental physics, coolant chemistry, heat transfer, mechanical development, SADE, and mixed spectrum superheat design are discussed. (M.C.G.)

The continuing analysis of the VBWR core resulted in refinements in the calculations for reactivity in voids, flux leakage and resonance escape probability. The Zircaloy cladding for 25 fuel assemblies was received and passed inspection. Preliminary measurements of VBWR flux oscillations, used to develop instrumentation and data interpretation techniques, showed random normally-distributed oscillations with a predominant frequency of 0.5 to 1.0 cycles/second. A model for analog computer simulation of a reactor as a feedback control system was adapted to VBWR. Equations for the hydraulics model and preliminary results from use of the model are presented. Irradiation of the Fuel Cycle stainless steel clad assemblies reached 412 MWD/T with specific powers of 28 kw/kg (average) and 52 kw/kg (peak) during January. Visual examination of the fuel after this irradiation indicated that it is in good condition. The VBWR was shut down during February and March for replacement of all in-core components made of 17-4 pH stainless steel with 304 stainless steel. The details of the first eight special fuel assemblies were determined and materials were ordered. The effects of steam quality, mass flow rate, and rod diameter on burnout heat flux are shown. The burnout heat flux varied inversely with mass …

Weekly newspaper from Brady, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.

Video footage from the WBAP-TV television station in Fort Worth, Texas, covering a news story.

Video footage from the WBAP-TV television station in Fort Worth, Texas, covering a news story.

Video footage from the WBAP-TV television station in Fort Worth, Texas, covering a news story.

Video footage from the WBAP-TV television station in Fort Worth, Texas, covering a news story.

Video footage from the WBAP-TV television station in Fort Worth, Texas, covering a news story.

Video footage from the WBAP-TV television station in Fort Worth, Texas, covering a news story.

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Will Wilson, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Whether the Robert A. Welch Foundation has the authority to grant funds to Texas Agricultural & Mechanical College System for the establishment of a modern-type cyclotron.

A discussion is given of a fabrication process for preparing spherical particles of thorium oxides containing 10 wt.% uranium homogenously distributed throughout the thoria matrix from a sol prepared from Th(NO/sub 3/)/sub 4/ reaction with NH/sub 4/OH, in which uranyl nitrate is dissolved. The particles formed are 5 to 50 microns in diameter. The process is felt to be adaptable to large-scale production. (B.O.G.)

Daily newspaper from Sapulpa, Oklahoma that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.

Daily newspaper from Cuero, Texas that includes local, state and national news along with advertising.

Daily newspaper from Baytown, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.

Daily newspaper from Sulphur Springs, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.

Activities in a program to develop techniques of plasma spraying clad plate-type UO/sub 2/ fuel elements are reported. The investigation was also directed toward determining the limitations of the process as applied to fuel element fabrication. UO/sub 2/ powder coatings having densities of 90% theoretical were produced. At conditions required for spraying plates, densities of 86% appear to be practical. The rate and efficiency of UO/sub 2/ coating deposition were also determined for various spraying conditions. Gritblasting was found to provide the best surface for coating adherence. The O/U ratio of the UO/sub 2/ was maintained by spraying in an Ar atmosphere. Zircaloy-2 was found to be the most desirable cladding material. Cladding thicknesses of 0.035 in. are required in distortion-free 2-in.-wide plates. (J.R.D.)

Progress made in the development of the Cs/sup 137/ fueled thermoelectric generator for marine power applications is reported. Information is given on thermoelectric generator design, shielding, power conversion system, hazards evaluation, fuel element forming and cladding, fabrication, and heat transfer. Cs/sup 137/ energy calculations are presented along with shielding calculations. The development and fabrication of cesium polyglass for fuel application are included. (N.W.R.)

Progress is reported in 26 papers on radioactive waste disposal, ecologicah research, radiation physics and dosimetry, internal dosimetry, and health physics technology. Twenty-five separate abstracts were prepared. One paper was previously abstracted for NSA. (M.C.G.)

Coatings on the fuel element surface and coatings on individual fuel particles are being investigated for retaining fission products in fuel for the Pebble Bed Reacter. Ten fuel element specimens with surface coatings were subjected to varying amounts of high level irradiation. Cracks or pinholes were found in 6 of the coatings. Evidence indicated that the graphite matrix contributed to most of the failures. Release factors of the order of 10/sup -9/ for the Si--SiC coating under high-level irradiation existed for a period of about one month, however. The pyrolytic carbon coating showed some promise as a fission product barrier in several neutron activation tests. Fourteen batches of UO/sub 2/ particles were coated with A1/sub 2/O/sub 3/ by the vapor deposition process. Tests showed that this coating is an excellent barrier to fission products. In pyrolytic carbon-coated UC/sub 2/ particles there is no temperature limitation due to reaction between the particle coating and the graphite matrix. (M.C.G.)