Note presenting the results of a study and research investigation of nondestructive test methods for spot welds in aluminum-alloy sheets. The purpose of the research was to investigate proposed nondestructive test methods for spot welds in aluminum alloys, to determine the feasibility of the tests, and to recommend the research methods found suitable for development and reduction to practical application.

"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 experiments with both curved and flat reinforced sheet models, the longitudinals of which were loaded axially. The stress distribution in longitudinals and sheet was measured with electric strain gages.

Report presenting experiments with a flat reinforced sheet model, the longitudinals of which were loaded axially. Two groups of sheets, one with one panel and one with two panels, were cut out and the stress distributions in stringers and sheet was measured with electric strain gages.

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.

"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).

"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).

Report presenting calibrations in axial tension over the strain range from 0 to 0.0024 are presented for 15 types of single element multistrand wire strain gages. The majority of the gages showed significant differences between the calibration factors for strain increasing and strain decreasing. Improvement in gage performance after preloading was apparent in most cases.

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."

Note presenting an investigation of several laminated glass windshields to determine their suitability for use in airplanes with pressurized cabins. The various constructions of the extended portions of the windshields which serve for mounting purposes included plastic alone, plastic and one sheet of glass extended, plastic extension reinforced with an aluminum strip, and plastic extension reinforced with a steel strip. The results indicated that the laminated windshields with plastic-mounting extensions reinforced by aluminum or steel were resistant to creep and bursting at pressures of the order that will be encountered in service.

"A decrease in shear strengths for increasing D/t ratios was shown in a previous investigation of protruding-head aluminum alloy rivets in double shear conducted at Aluminum Research Laboratories in 1942. Since single shear joints are more common than double shear joints, it was desirable to extend the investigation to single shear joints. This reports describes the results of this investigation of single shear joints and also includes the results of the previous investigation on double shear joints" (p. 1).

Report presenting a note in two parts regarding simplified truss stability criteria. The first part covers the development of simplified criteria for the stability of planar pin-jointed trusses against buckling in the plane of the truss. The second part constitutes a report on tests carried out to verify the validity of the criteria developed in part one.

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.

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.

Note presenting a method of deriving certain airfoil shapes that delay certain compressibility phenomena, and the aerodynamic data for a wide range of Mach numbers obtained from tests of the airfoils in the 24-inch high-speed tunnel. The airfoils, which are designated the NACA 16-series, have increased critical Mach number. Results regarding the airfoil comparison, critical speed, minimum drag, and use of the data are provided.

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.

From Summary: "A unit oil system and oil-weighing device designed for laboratory engine tests to permit the remote measurement of oil-flow rate and oil consumption is described. The system regulates the oil pressure and temperature and is closed to make possible the accurate measurement of blow-by gas. The oil is weighed by a self-contained diaphragm and pilot-valve assembly, which uses compressed air as the transmitting medium. Several of those unit systems have given satisfactory service for more than a year."