Report includes the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics letter of submittal to the President, summaries of the committee's activities and research accomplished, bibliographies, and financial report.

From Summary: "The stipulation of best thrust distribution is applied to the annular elements of the screw propeller with infinitely many blades in frictionless, incompressible flow and an ideal jet propulsion system derived possessing hyperbolic angular velocity distribution along the blade radius and combining the advantage of uniform thrust distribution over the section with minimum slipstream and rotation losses. This system is then compared with a propeller possessing the same angular velocity at all blade elements and the best possible thrust distribution secured by means of an induced efficiency varying uniformly over the radius. Lastly, the case of the lightly loaded propeller also is discussed."

Predicated on the assumption of certain normal conditions for engine and propeller, simple expressions for the static and dynamic stresses of propeller blade roots are evolved. They, in combination with the fatigue strength diagram of the employed material, afford for each engine power one certain operating point by which the state of stress serving as a basis for the design of the root is defined. Different stress cases must be analyzed, depending on the vibration tendency of engine and use of propeller. The solution affords an insight into the possible introduction of different size classes of propeller.

"An investigation was conducted in the NACA full-scale wind tunnel to determine the drag and the propulsive efficiency of nacelle-propeller arrangements for a large range of nacelle sizes. In contrast with usual tests with a single nacelle, these tests were conducted with nacelle-propeller installations on a large model of a four-engine airplane. Data are presented on the first part of the investigation, covering seven nacelle arrangements with nacelle diameters from 0.53 to 1.5 times the wing thickness" (p. 301).

Report presents the results of force tests made of a 1/8-scale model of a twin-engine low-wing transport airplane in the NACA 8-foot high-speed tunnel to investigate compressibility and interference effects of speeds up to 450 miles per hour. In addition to tests of the standard arrangement of the model, tests were made with several modifications designed to reduce the drag and to increase the critical speed.

Report presenting tests in the 8-foot high-speed wind tunnel to determine the loads and the load distributions at high speeds for a number of windshields of the cockpit-canopy type. Ten windshields of various designs similar to those in general use were included in these tests. Results regarding drag, loads, and design considerations are provided.

Report presenting knock-limited performance tests made with eight representative fuels rated at 100-octane number using the CFR aviation method. All eight fuels were mixtures of representative blending agents and bases. Results regarding the effect of inlet-temperature air changes, effect of octane numbers in a full-scale single-cylinder engine, effect of addition of aromatics to the fuels, and type of spark plug used are provided.

Report presents the results of normal-pressure tests made of 56 rectangular plates with clamped edges and of 5 plates with freely supported edges. Pressure was applied and the center deflection and the permanent set at the center were measured. For some of the plates, in addition, strains and contours were measured.

Wing pressure distribution diagrams for several angles of attack and flap deflections of 0 degrees, 20 degrees, and 40 degrees are presented. The normal force coefficients agree with lift coefficients obtained in previous test of the same model, except for the maximum lifts with flap deflection. Pressure distribution measurements were made at Reynolds Number of about 6,000,000.

Report presenting pressure distribution measurements on two 24-inch chord models equipped with Fowler flaps in the two-dimensional low-turbulence pressure tunnel. Results regarding pressure-distribution diagrams and normal-force and moment coefficients are provided.

"A mathematical analysis of radiator design has been made. The volume of the radiator using least total power has been expressed in a single formula which shows that the optimum radiator volume is independent of the shape of the radiator and which makes possible the construction of design tables that give the optimum radiator volume per 100-horsepower heat dissipation as a function of the speed, of the altitude, and of one parameter involving characteristics of the airplane. Although, for a given set of conditions, the radiator volume using the least total power is fixed, the frontal area, or the length of the radiator needs to be separately specified in order to satisfy certain other requirement such as the ability to cool with the pressure drop available while the airplane is climbing" (p. 1).

From Summary: "The resistance coefficients of commercial types of round wire grids were examined for the purpose of obtaining the necessary data on supercharger test stands for throttling the inducted air to a pressure corresponding to a desired air density. The measurements of the coefficients ranged up to Reynolds numbers of 1000. In the arrangement of two grids in tandem, which was necessary in order to obtain high resistance coefficients with the solidity, that is, mesh density of grid, was found to be accompanied by a further relationship with the mutual spacing of the individual grids."

Report presenting an experimental determination of the heat transfer between the air stream and a model of the inlet valve and seat of an air-cooled aircraft type cylinder (Wright J-6) as a function of air flow and valve lift. The circumstances of the test are described and the pressure and temperature rise characteristics are provided.

"A convenient method has been developed for determining the scavenging efficiency or the charging efficiency of two-stroke-cycle engines. The method consists of introducing a suitable tracer gas into the inlet air of the running engine and measuring chemically its concentration both in the inlet and exhaust gas. Monomethylamine CH(sub 3)NH(sub 2) was found suitable for the purpose as it burns almost completely during combustion, whereas the "short-circuited" portion does not burn at all and can be determined quantitatively in the exhaust" (p. 1).

Report presenting an investigation to determine the properties of diffuser-resistance combinations. The work applies to the design of airplane cooling ducts in which air is expanded in front of resistances, such as radiators, oil coolers, intercoolers, or the cylinders of an air-cooled engine.

Note presenting a method that has been developed to permit the extension of the methods of photoelasticity to include the measurement of velocity distribution in a moving fluid. The method is based on the fact that viscous shear in certain liquids gives rise to double refraction, which may be linearly related to the shear stresses.

"A discussion of the general principles involved in the rating and testing of centrifugal superchargers, a statement and discussion of present standard methods in rating and testing, and reasons for the adoption of these standards are given" (p. 1).

Summary presenting information on flush-riveted joints for aircraft construction, including the strength, occurrence of defects, and effect of the angle of rivet head. The current tests covers specimens from 15 manufacturers of which 5 series have been completed and are described in this report.

"For circular-ring stiffeners in monocoque fuselages the bending moments, axial forces, and shear forces under the action of applied external forces or a moment are accurately computed by known methods. Circular-ring stiffeners with variable moments of inertia are likewise considered. In comparison with the step-by-step and partially graphical procedure, the one here described is a more accurate and at the same time a simpler method" (p. 1).

The present study treats as a typical example a ring the center line of which is produced by the intersection of two circular cylinders of different diameter. Three load cases are analyzed: (1) Axial and circumferential stresses in both cylinders, the cylinder stresses themselves to be in the ratio conformal to the cylinders loaded under internal pressure. (2) Pure longitudinal tension in the large cylinder. (3) Pure shear (torsion) in the large cylinder.

"Tensile and compressive stress-strain curves, stress-deviation curves, and secant modulus-stress curves are given for longitudinal and transverse specimens of 17S-T, 24S-T, and 24S-RT aluminum-alloy sheet in thicknesses from 0.032 to 0.081 inch, 1025 carbon steel sheet in thicknesses of 0.054 and 0.120 inch, and chromium-nickel steel sheet in thicknesses form 0.020 to 0.0275 inch. Significant differences were found between the tensile and the compressive stress-strain curves, and also the corresponding corollary curves; similarly, differences were found between the curves for the longitudinal and transverse directions" (p. 1).

Report presenting data on the rolling accelerations of airplanes of different types and sizes in abrupt aileron rolls in connection with a number of maneuverability and flying qualities investigations. An analysis was made to determine the relation between the torque applied to the aileron system by the pilot, the motion of the system, and the subsequent rolling motion of the airplane in abrupt aileron roll.

"This report is an addendum to NACA Technical Note No. 736, which dealt with tidewater and weather-exposure tests being conducted by the National Bureau of Standards on various aluminum alloys, magnesium alloys, and stainless steels used in aircraft. The exposures were begun in June 1938 and were terminated, for this particular series, in June 1941. The methods of exposure and the materials being investigated are described, and the more important results obtained up to the conclusion of the second year's exposure are reported" (p. 1).

Report presenting an investigation in the 7- by 10-foot wind tunnel of an NACA 23012 airfoil equipped with a Handley Page slat and a slotted and a split flap. The purpose of the investigation was to determine the aerodynamic section characteristics of the airfoil with and without flaps as affected by the location of the Handley Page slat. A range of slat-nose locations was investigated both with and without flaps at a constant slat gap.