The report summarizes Hanford`s operation in 1953. The 38% increase in separated plutonium over the 1952 level was one measure of achievement. 1953`s output was more than seven times that of 1947, the first full year of General Electric`s operation of Hanford. Although much of this gain resulted from new reactors, some was due to improved safety devices, and much was due to increased knowledge of the controlling factors which permitted more efficient operation of old piles and better design of new ones. Year-by-year reductions in the cost of converting uranium to plutonium tell the real story of progress at Hanford. The annual production gains could have been made by building many 1944 model piles, though at fantastic cost. Contrasted with this is the actual case--a few new, improved piles plus more production from the old ones.

From Introduction: "Reported herein are results of the additional direct-stress fatigue tests on: (1) a plate-type specimen with cored centrally located hole and (2) 0.300-inch-diameter round polished specimens with various degrees of porosity."

Report presenting a flight investigation over a range of Mach numbers to determine the aerodynamic characteristics at low lift of a rocket model of an airplane with a 52.5 degree delta wing of aspect ratio 3.08 and NACA 65A003 airfoil sections in the streamwise direction and a low, swept horizontal tail. Results regarding the longitudinal trim, lift, drag, longitudinal static stability, damping in pitch, and directional static stability are provided.

From Introduction: "Results from the tests in the Langley 4- by 4-foot supersonic pressure tunnel at Mach numbers of 1.61 and 2.01 are presented in reference 1. Reported herein are results obtained from the tests in the Langley 8-foot transonic tunnel of the model with no control deflections at Mach numbers 0.6 to 1.12 for angles of attack up to 34^o

"Pressure-distribution and force tests of a circular cylinder have been made in the Langley 11-inch hypersonic tunnel at a Mach number of 6.86, a Reynolds number of 129,000 based on diameter, and angles of attack up to 90 degrees. The results are compared with the hypersonic approximation of Grimminger, Williams, and Young and with a simple modification of the Newtonian flow theory. The comparison of experimental results shows that either theory gives adequate general aerodynamic characteristics but that the modified Newtonian theory gives a more accurate prediction of the pressure distribution" (p. 1).

Report presenting an investigation at Mach number 1.61. to determine the aerodynamic characteristics of a full-span trailing-edge control on a 60 degree delta wing with and without a partial-span spoiler mounted on the wing just ahead of the control. Pressure distribution and hinge-moment measurements were made over a range of angles of attack and control deflection. Results indicated that regions of increase pressure due to flow separation ahead of the control at the larger control deflections and ahead of the spoiler exist.

From Introduction: "In the present paper, a general method is developed for solving low-aspect-ratio problems involving shed vortex sheets. Both direct and inverse problems are considered. The method is applicable for all planar problems where the velocity boundary conditions can be made homogeneous by differentiation in either the streamwise or the spanwise directions."

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From Summary: Test results are presented which indicate that the pickup is aerodynamically stable and has accuracy, obtained from a bench calibration, of better than 0.3^o under conditions including acceleration up to 20g in any direction, Mach numbers from 0.5 to 2.8, and dynamic pressures up to at least 65 psi. Equations and curves which can be used to obtain flow direction at the center of gravity of a maneuvering model are presented."

From Introduction: "Reported herein are the over-all engine performance and the starting and windmilling characteristics. Data are presented in the form of performance maps at each flight condition to show the effects of altitude and flight Mach number on various engine-performance variables. The effect of engine deterioration with operating time on performance is also discussed."

From Introduction: "The purpose of this report is (1) to describe the performance of each component over a range of altitudes, (2) to show the effect of flight conditions on operating point of each component, and (3) to summarize briefly the effects of changes in component performance with flight condition on the over-all engine performance."

From Introduction: "This report presents an analysis of the response of the relief valve to sudden flow-demand changes. The analysis can be applied to the design of relief valves to satisfy given response specifications and to predict the stability of the valve in a specific hydraulic circuit. For this reason, derivatives of all the constants employed are included in the report."

Annual report submitted by the Boy Scouts of America to Congress describing highlights from 1953, activities, programming, resources, organizational leadership, and other information about scouting programs.

Describes apple scald, the damage and losses it causes, and methods for control.

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Abstract: An automatic micromuffle for the determination of the ash content of small samples of carbonaceous material is comprised of a furnace of the radiant-heating type with a direct reading pyrometer for temperature control. This furnace can be assembled with a minimum of labor using parts available from scientific laboratory apparatus companies.

In the Bismuth Phosphate process, 100 tons of 215 MWD uranium can be processed each month using the present equipment. The activation of equipment in spare cells, contemplated process improvements, and transfer piping changes could increase the capacity of the process by about 20%. As the program is inaugurated, dissolver and extraction sections will control productive capacity of the process and first efforts will be directed toward increasing the efficiency and flexibility of operations in these sections so that the full capacity of subsequent sections in the process can be realized. Primarily the Bismuth Phosphate process capacity limitations are based on the amount of plutonium which can be allowed in each batch or run; however, the physical capacities of the equipment to dissolve uranium and handle the resulting dissolver solutions become more limiting in the extraction step as the MWD of the uranium is lowered. When processing 215 MWD uranium, the maximum efficiencies in dissolving and extracting plutonium from the uranium metal solution will not allow the subsequent plutonium processing sections to realize their full productive capacity. To bring all portions of the process into better capacity balance, an investigation has been made of the capacity problems in the Bismuth …

During the last few months the Redox plant has been plagued with an excessive number of problems which have resulted in its inability to meet forecasted production schedules in November 1953, January and February 1954. The following paragraphs are intended to indicate some of the problems faced at Redox and the steps that are being taken to remedy them. It should be emphasized that the plant has been operating far above original design capacity and this fact tends to aggravate some of the problems. For example, although steps have been taken to increase the throughput capacity of certain of the head-end steps and some of the columns, it is most possible to install a second centrifuge, oxidizer or D-12 waste evaporator in parallel so that when any of these -- one of a kind -- pieces of equipment is out of service the entire plant is unable to operate.

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The following report analyzes results from studies made while applying chelating agents to ion exchange separations of the elements americium and curium.

This report details activities of the Chemical Development Unit during the month of March 1954.

Some chemical and photochemical observations of 1,2-dithiolane and its derivatives are reported with particular reference to the possible mode of function of the naturally occurring system, 6-thioctic acid. Experimental evidence is presented to demonstrate that the strain energy in this 5-membered ring is not less than 6.5 Kcals and probably larger. Reagents which both oxidize and reduce this ring are described together with the conditions required for its reformation from the corresponding dithiol. Evidence is adduced to indicate that the primary product of photolysis of this ring in acetic media is very likely a thiol and sulfenic acid or derivative thereof.

Report presenting an investigation in the high-speed tunnel to determine the effects on the chordwise pressure and section force and moment coefficients near midspan of deflecting a flap-type control with an attached tab on a swept wing. The semispan 35 degree sweptback wing had an NACA 65A006 airfoil section, an aspect ratio of 4, and a taper ratio of 0.6.

Performance of experimental annular turbojet combustors at simulated high altitude supersonic flight conditions.