"A procedure which takes into account the aerodynamic span effect is given for the determination of the torsional-divergence velocities of monoplanes. The explicit solutions obtained in several cases indicate that the aerodynamic span effect may increase the divergence velocities found by means of the section-force theory by as much as 17 to 40 percent. It is found that the magnitude of the effect increases with increasing degree of stiffness taper and decreases with increasing degree of chord taper" (p. 1).

Note presenting fairing compositions applied to aircraft surfaces, welds and junctions of metal plates, and rivet depressions to improve the aerodynamic efficiency of the airplane at high speeds. A method is described for formulating fairing compositions which have, within limits, desired coefficients of thermal expansion. Results regarding water-immersion tests, thermal expansion and softening temperature, temperature-cycle tests, and density are provided.

"Axial fatigue tests were made on 189 coupon specimens of 0.032-inch 24S-T aluminum-alloy sheet and a few supplementary specimens of 0.004-inch sheet. The mean load was zero. The specimens were restrained against lateral buckling by lubricated solid guides described in a previous report on this project. About two-thirds of the 0.032-inch specimens were plain coupons nominally free from stress raisers. The remainder contained a 0.1285-inch drilled hole at the center where the reduced section was 0.5 inch wide" (p. 1).

"A solution of Von Karman's fundamental equations for plates with large deflections is presented for the case of a shear web divided into square panels by reinforcing struts. Numerical solutions are given for struts of infinite rigidity and for struts the weight of which is one-fourth the weight of the sheet. The results are compared with Wagner's diagonal tension theory as extended by Kuhn and by Langhaar. It is found that the diagonal tension theory as developed by Kuhn agrees best with the present paper in the practical range when r=1/4. Kuhn's theory is in especially good agreement for the force in the strut when r=1/4" (p. 1).

"It is well known that the vorticity for any fluid element is constant if the fluid is non-viscous and the change of state of the fluid is isentropic. When a solid body is placed in a uniform stream, the flow far ahead of the body is irrotational. Then if the flow is further assumed to be isentropic, the vorticity will be zero over the whole filed of flow. In other words, the flow is irrotational. For such flow over a solid body, it is shown by Theodorsen that the solid body experiences no resistance" (p. 1).

"In the present part I of a series of reports on the inward bulge type buckling of monocoque cylinders the buckling load in combined bending and compression is first derived. Next the reduction in the buckling load because of a nonlinear direct stress distribution is determined. In experiments nonlinearity may result from an inadequate stiffness of the end attachments in actual airplanes from the existence of concentrated loads or cut-outs" (p. 1).

This paper is the second part of a series of reports on the inward bulge type buckling of monocoque cylinders. It presents the results of an experimental investigation of buckling in combined bending and compression. In the investigation it was found that the theory developed in part I of the present series predicts the buckling load in combined bending and compression with the same degree of accuracy as the older theory does in pure bending.

"Tests were run on a single-cylinder and a multicylinder four-stroke engine in order to determine the effect of the dynamics of the inlet system upon indicated mean effective pressure. Tests on the single-cylinder engine were made at various speeds, inlet valve timings, and inlet pipe lengths. These tests indicated that the indicated mean effective pressure could be raised considerably at any one speed by the use of a suitably long inlet pipe" (p. 1).

Numerical methods have been developed for obtaining the steady, adiabatic flow field of a frictionless, perfect gas about arbitrary two-dimensional bodies. The solutions include the subsonic velocity regions, the supersonic velocity regions, and the transition compression shocks, if required. Furthermore, the rotational motion and entropy changes following shocks are taken into account. Extensive use is made of the relaxation method. In this report the details of the methods of solution are emphasized so as to permit others to solve similar problems. Solutions already obtained are mentioned only by way of illustrating the possibilities of the methods described. The methods can be applied directly to wind tunnel and free air tests of arbitrary airfoil shapes at subsonic, sonic, and supersonic speeds.

From Summary: "Guide fixtures are described by means of which axial fatigue loads including compression may be applied to a thin sheet-metal specimen. Tests indicate that the guides prevented buckling without bypassing the load or injuring the specimen."

An investigation was conducted to determine the tensile strength of round-head (AN43C), flat-head(AN442), and brazier-head (AN4556) aluminum-alloy rivets because of the scarcity of information on the tensile strength of rivets. The results of the investigation are presented as curves that show the variation of the ratio of the tensile strength of the rivet to the tensile strength of the rivet crank with the ratio of the sheet thickness to the rivet diameter for the different types of rivet.

"General thin-airfoil theory for a compressible fluid is formulated as boundary problem for the velocity potential, without recourse to the theory of vortex motion. On the basis of this formulation the integral equation of lifting-surface theory for an incompressible fluid is derived with the chordwise component of the fluid velocity at the airfoil as the function to be determined. It is shown how by integration by parts this integral equation can be transformed into the Biot-Savart theorem" (p. 1).

Note presenting a solution for the load-strain curve of a simply supported rectangular plate with a width-length ratio of 1:4 under combined normal pressure and axial load. The results indicate it to be conservative design in the elastic range to neglect the effect of lateral pressure on the sheet buckling load and on the load carried by the sheet after buckling.

Note presenting an investigation of the effect of artificial aging on the strengths of driven rivets of the alloys used commercially for rivets: specifically, A17S-T, 17S-T, and 24S-T. The change in shear strength for each type of rivet after being exposed to artificial aging treatment of 10 hours at 375 degrees Fahrenheit applied to the driven rivets is described.

Results are presented of tests for determining the tensile, compressive, and bending properties of a material of plastic-bonding glass cloth and canvas layers. In addition, 10 panel specimens were tested in compression. Although the material is not satisfactory for primary structural use in aircraft when compared on a strength-weight basis with other materials in common use, there appears to be potential strength in the material that will require research for development. These points are considered in some detail in the concluding discussion of the report. An appendix shows that a higher tensile strength can be obtained by changes in the type of weave used in the glass-cloth reinforcement.

"Flat sheet panels of aluminum alloy (all 17S-T except for two specimens of 24S-T) were tested under normal pressures with clamped edge supports in the structures laboratory of the Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory, California Institute of Technology. The thicknesses used ranged from 0.010 to 0.080 inch; the panel sizes ranged from 10 by 10 inches to 10 by 40 inches; and the pressure range was from 0 to 60-pounds-per-square-inch gage. Deflection patterns were measured and maximum tensile strains in the center of the panel were determined by electric strain gages" (p. 1).

Report presenting testing of fifty-eight lightened and five unlightened aluminum-alloy channels as simply supported beams in pure or simple bending produced by loads parallel to the plane of symmetry, and fifty-three lightened and four unlightened aluminum-alloy channels with loads parallel to the back. Four types of testing occurred with various types of support and loading.

Note presenting a least-squares procedure adapted to numerical calculation for the approximate solution of the Prandtl lifting-line equation. Sufficient data are tabulated to permit a solution of the equation by purely numerical methods for an arbitrary symmetrical variation of the chord and the angle of attack.

Report presenting an investigation of the shape of stress-strain curve for a material, especially when the material is subjected to compression, which may cause materials to become unstable at stresses beyond the elastic range. The ratio of stresses to effective modulus is explored in equation form.

Note presenting an effective value of Poisson's ratio for 18:8 Cr-Ni steel computed from values of tensile and torsional moduli of elasticity obtianed in earlier investigations by use of an appropriate formula.

"An empirical equation has been developed that gives the approximate amount of ovalization for tubes under bending loads. Tests were made on tubes in the d/t range from 6 to 14, the latter d/t ratio being in the normal landing gear range. Within the range of the series of tests conducted, the increase in ovalization due to a compression load in combination with a bending load was very small" (p. 1).

From Summary: "The various types of hydrodynamic instability - including porpoising, skipping, and yawing - that may be encountered during take-off or landing of a flying boat are described and the piloting technique required for efficient take-offs and landings is discussed. Suggestions are made for assisting a pilot to become familiar with the take-off and landing qualities of a flying boat that is new to him."

Report presenting a survey of the technical information contained in the literature on the subject of lubrication, friction, and wear of aircraft engine piston rings.

Note presenting a torsion test to failure for a monocoque box of 24S-T aluminum alloy. The box had a rectangular section and was reinforced by Z-stringers, antirolls, bulkheads, and corner posts.