This report summarizes recent technical progress in the major areas of study. Because a considerable variety of work has been performed this year they authors first give brief synopses of individual research projects categorizing them as to their relevance to the general areas of plasma stability analyses, plasma heating or basic plasma physics. Next, they discuss these projects as they relate to and support the various DOE experimental programs. The DOE experimental programs are: (1) toroidal confinement systems; (2) open confinement systems; and (3) alternative concepts (EBT, Spheromak, field reversed mirrors and punches).

The rock mechanics testing performed at the Earth Mechanics Institute of the Colorado School of Mines for Rockwell Hanford Operations under subcontract SA-917 is summarized. Cores were supplied from drill hole DC-4 on the Hanford Site, characterized geologically, and tested for thermal and physical properties for designing long-term underground storage of radioactive waste materials. The approved test procedures, results, and data analysis for this test series are presented. Uniaxial and triaxial results indicate strengths similar to drill hole DC-6, but significantly higher than drill hole DC-8. Trends with density, depth, confining pressure, and temperature, however, were similar for the three drill hole locations tested.