Investigations were undertaken to improve the ailerons of a P-51 fighter so as to obtain greater effectiveness without increasing the stick forces. Modifications consisted of increasing the deflection range of the aileron to 70 percent and changing the original concave section to a thick section with beveled trailing edge. Results of the modified ailerons showed an increase in effectiveness over the original aileron of 70 percent at low speed and 55 percent at high speeds.

Report issued by the U.S. Bureau of Mines on the differing conditions of oxygen in explosives. Results from explosives samples with oxygen variations are presented. This report includes tables.

Pressure drop calculations are shown for He cooled power plants ranging from 400,000 kw to 30,000 kw.

Report presenting an approximate method of applying the available data on various types of flaps in the design of fighter brakes together with several examples of its use. The computed effects of flap type, size, location, and deflection as well as the effects of altitude and initial velocities on braking characteristics are also shown in some examples using the method to determine various flap arrangements.

Report presenting force-test measurements in two-dimensional flow in the 4- by 6-foot vertical tunnel of the characteristics of an NACA 0015 airfoil equipped with a plain flap with a chord 30 percent of the airfoil chord and a plain tab with a chord 20 percent of the flap chord. Results regarding lift, hinge moment of flap, pitching moment, drag, and tab characteristics are provided.

Analysis was made to determine characteristics required of a balancing-tab system for ailerons in order to reduce aileron stick forces to any desired magnitude. Series of calculations based on section data were made to determine balancing-tab systems of various chord tabs and ailerons that will give, for a particular airplane, zero rate of aileron hinge moment with aileron deflection and yet will produce same maximum rate of roll as a plain unbalanced 15-percent chord aileron of same span. Effects of rolling velocity and of forces in tab link on aileron hinge moments have been included.

Report presenting a summary of published information on braking friction coefficients. Analysis indicates that the magnitude of the friction coefficient available will affect the technique required for obtaining the shortest ground run only under extreme conditions.

Bulletin presenting the results of an investigation to determine possible improvements in the tightness and the flushness of machine-countersunk rivets. Specimens used in the study were simple lap joints made by different riveting methods. The results indicate that a comparison of the quality of machine-countersunk riveted joints on the basis of maximum load alone is not justified.

"Laboratory tests were made to obtain information on the load-resisting properties of X76S-T aluminum alloy when subjected to static, impact, and repeated loads. Results are presented from static-load test of unnotched specimens in tension and in torsion and of notched specimens in tension. Charpy impact values obtained from bend tests on notched specimens and tension impact values for both notched and unnotched specimens tested at several different temperatures are included" (p. 1).

A fixture is described for making normal-pressure tests of flat plates 5 inches in diameter in which particular care was taken to obtain rigid clamping at the edges. Results are given for 19 plates, ranging in thickness from 0.015 to 0.072 inch. The center deflections and the extreme-fiber stresses at low pressures were found to agree with theoretical values; the center deflections at high pressures were 4 to 12 percent greater than the theoretical values. Empirical curves are derived of the pressure for the beginning of permanent set as a function of the dimensions of the plate and the tensile properties of the material.

From Summary: "Normal-pressure tests were made of 56 rectangular plates with clamped edges and of 5 plats 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, strains and contours were measured in addition."

An analysis is presented of the results of tests made by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics on an investigation of the strength of thin-walled circular and elliptic cylinders in pure bending and in combined torsion and bending. In each of the loading conditions, the bending moments were applied in the plane of the major axis of the ellipse.

A preliminary study of pitching-moment data on tapered wings indicated that excellent agreement with test data was obtained by locating the quarter-chord point of the average chord on the average quarter-chord point of the semispan. The study was therefore extended to include most of the available data on tapered-wing models tested by the NACA.

Report presenting testing of a Pratt & Whitney R-1830-43 engine mounted in a B-24D nacelle in the full-scale wind tunnel in order to investigation the potential improvements of fuel economy. Suggestions for improving the cruising power and cruising range by operating at specified fuel-air ratios are provided.

Report presenting testing in the two-dimensional tunnel of four models submitted by the Glenn L. Martin Company as intermediate sections of the wing of the XB-33 airplane. Each airfoil model had different types of flaps or no flaps at all. Results regarding the lift and drag data, lift coefficients, effect of flap positions, aileron effects, drag coefficients, and hinge-moment coefficients are provided.

Bulletin presenting a study of several airfoils, including a conventional NACA 23021 and some low-drag airfoils for which the thickness had been increased, as smooth airfoils and after the application of a standard roughness. The results show some of the airfoils to be critical to separation resulting from such flow disturbances.

Bulletin presenting a discussion of information as to the influence on spins and spin recovery of the wing loading and load distribution of present-day pursuit airplanes. The high wing loadings results in high rates of descent and large control forces for recovery.

Report presenting testing of a model of the Douglas DC-3 airplane for several loading conditions. The load factor for the complete airplane, for the horizontal tail, and the force to start moving the elevator downward were estimated for some steady spins. Testing occurred at 2500 feet and 10,000 feet.

Report presenting the results of nearly 200 tests made on the strength of shear webs of 24S-T aluminum alloy, with and without lightening holes. The tests were made in a jig of the single-specimen type, in which the specimen is free to collapse completely without developing diagonal tension. Results regarding the strength of the shear webs, stiffness of shear webs, and permanent-set tests are provided.

Report presenting an exploration of fatigue stresses of some wrought aluminum alloys, including charts that cover different ranges of stress and number of cycles.

From introductory paragraph: "Because of the possibility that tungsten hexafluoride might occur as an impurity in uranium hexafluoride it seemed worthwhile to prepare some of the material in order to become familiar with its mode of preparation, reactions, etc."

"The calculation of the stresses around cut-outs is discussed on the basis of a simplified application of the shear-lag theory previously published. Experimental stringer strains were measured around a systematic series of cut-outs. The test results indicate that the proposed method of calculating the stringer stresses is acceptable as a basis for stress analysis" (p. 1).

Report presenting an investigation in the 20-foot propeller-research tunnel to determine the effect of variations in angle of pitch on the aerodynamic characteristics of several propeller combinations. The combinations investigated included two-, three-, four-, and six-blade single-rotating propellers and a six-blade dual-rotating propeller on a nacelle with four angles of thrust axis. The propulsive efficiency was found to decrease as the angle of pitch increased.

Report presenting an analysis of the failure of adhesive bonds and its relation to boundary stress concentrations. A variety of material combinations, including metals and plastics, were examined and stress tested. The method of computing the thermal coefficients is applied to mixtures and especially to reinforced plastics.