Annual report submitted by the Boy Scouts of America to Congress describing highlights from 1949, activities, organizational leadership, and other information about scouting programs.

This report details events of importance reported by the Hanford Operations Office for the week ending April 20, 1949.

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The pile physics group reports on reactivity power coefficients from the production test No. 105-248-P, the water leak in B pile, graphite properties, xenon equations from the B pile shutdown of March 1946, and reactivity balance. The experimental physics group headed by J.M. West reports on graphite testing, the P-11 project, and shielding. The experimental physics group headed by E.B. Montgomery reports on diffusion length measurements in the DR and H piles. (GHH)

A report which summarizes the performance data obtained from Redox solvent extraction IC Column studies made prior to January 15, 1949 in accordance with conditions of the A.N.L. June 1, 1948, Flowsheet.

Report discussing tests of a new colorimetric method. From abstract: "A colorimetric method, which is a modification of the classical phosphomolybdic acid method, has been developed for the determination of phosphate in synthetic uranium waste solutions...The chief advantage of the method, over those presently included in HW Manuals, is the rapidity with which determinations may be carried out."

This report discusses properties of the Redox process. Density, apparent molar volumes and viscosity are all described.

The following document presents designs and blueprints to the bubble-cap column built to replace a nitric acid concentrator.

The following report covers the results of a general program that was conducted at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory to investigate the effects on plastic materials of exposure to radiation in the pile. In the investigation, several plastics were irradiated, and on removal from the pile, their rates of decay were determined by measurement of gamma activity in an ionization chamber.

Samples from a single drilling made at Arco, Idaho were submitted to determine the adsorptive capacity of soil at Arco, Idaho for radioactive elements.

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The attenuation of electro-statically and electro-magnetically shielded rooms in the ``E,`` ``R,`` ``I,`` and ``T`` Buildings was measured so that corrective measure could be taken if the attenuation was found to be low. If remedial measures could not be taken, the shortcomings of the rooms would be known. Also, the men making the measurements should oversee construction and correct errors at the time. The work was performed by measuring the attenuation at spot frequencies over the range of from 150 kilocycles to 1280 megacycles with suitable equipment mounted in small rubber-tried trucks. The attenuation was determined by ``before and after`` shielding and/or ``door open and door closed`` measurements after installation of copper shielding. In general, attenuation in the frequency range of approximately 10 to 150 mc. was good and was of the order expected. At frequencies in the range of 150 mc. to 1280 mc., the attenuation curve was more erratic; that is, at certain frequencies a severe loss of attenuation was noted, while at others, the attenuation was very good. This was mainly due to poor or faulty seals around doors and pass windows. These poor seals existed in the ``T,`` ``E,`` and ``I`` Buildings because the doors were …

The objectives in producing neutron sources are to produce uniform products of as high efficiencies as possible from the neutron yielding elements and to do this in the safest manner. The purpose of the present work was to improve the methods of preparing sources and at the same time increase the types of sources available. Lithium, sodium, and their compounds were chosen because the neutron fluxes and energies are low, thus making the experimental work less hazardous to the operator. Also, the elements are quite reactive, so that techniques which are successful with them can be easily adapted to other materials. Solvents for polonium, ways of mixing polonium and target, neutron yields, reproducibility, decay of the sources, means of recovering polonium, and materials for containers, were investigated.

This document is a March 1949 Ad Interim Report from the Mound Laboratory on the solution chemistry of polonium. A consideration of the valences of the elements of the Group VI-A would indicate that the oxidation states of -2, 2, 4, and 6 might be expected for polonium. From the decrease in stability of the hydrides of these elements with increase in atomic number, one would expect that the compound H{sub 2} Po would be very unstable and that the oxidation state of -2 would not occur in solution. Furthermore, the stability of the oxidation state +6 as well as the stability of the highest oxidation state of a given element decreases as the atomic number increases in Group VI-A and Period VI respectively. For these reasons, the oxidation state +6 for polonium would be expected to occur only in a strongly oxidizing medium. The +4 state would be expected to be stable. The work discussed herein indicates that polonium exists as PoO{sup ++} in a nonoxidizing or reducing medium.

From summary: "Report discussing the beta-gamma dosage rate at the surface of a natural uranium disc. Measurements were taken using a Ryerson electrometer and an extrapolation ionization chamber."

Memorandum presenting measurements of some of the high-speed characteristics of the D-558-1 airplane up to Mach number 0.89. The results of the tests showed that the stabilizer incidence drastically affected the longitudinal trim characteristics above a Mach number of 0.80.

From Introduction: "Recent developments in the statistical theory of extreme values (references 4 to 10) have indicated a somewhat more rational approach to the problem of predicting the probability of occurrence The present report summarizes some of these findings, indicates the method of application, and evaluates their applicability to certain gust-load problems ."

A simplified lifting-surface theory that includes effects of compressibility and spanwise variation of section lift-curve slope is used to provide charts with which antisymmetric loading due to arbitrary antisymmetric angle of attack can be found for wings having symmetric plan forms with a constant spanwise sweep angle of the quarter-chord line. Consideration is given to the flexible wing in roll. Aerodynamic characteristics due to rolling, deflected ailerons, and sideslip of wings with dihedral are considered. Solutions are presented for straight-tapered wings for a range of swept plan forms.

From Summary: "Measurements of wing and fuselage pressure distributions were made at low and high subsonic Much numbers on a 0.16-scale model of the projected MX-656 research airplane. The MX-656 is a supersonic design utilizing a low-aspect-ratio wing and tail. Pressure-distribution measurements indicated that, although the critical Mach number of the wing was approximately 0.81 at 0 degree angle of attack, compressibility effects were of little significance below a Mach number of at least 0.90. The principal effect of compressibility was an increase in the pressure gradient over the after 30 percent of the wing chord, causing a tendency for the flow to separate."

An investigation was made in the Langley high-speed 7- by 10-foot tunnel to determine the high-speed lateral and directional stability characteristics of a 0.10-scale model of the Grumman XF9F-2 airplane in the Mach number range from 0.40 to 0.85. The results indicate that static lateral and directional stability is present throughout the Mach number range investigated although in the Mach number range from 0.75 to 0.85 there is an appreciable decrease in rolling moment due to sideslip. Calculations of the dynamic stability indicate that according to current flying-quality requirements the damping of the lateral oscillation, although probably satisfactory for the sea-level condition, may not be satisfactory for the majority of the altitude conditions investigated.

An investigation of a 1/18-scale dynamically similar model of the North American B-45 airplane was made to observe the ditching behavior and determine the proper landing technique to be used in an emergency water landing. Various conditions of damage were simulated to determine the behavior which probably would occur in a full-scale ditching. The behavior of the model was determined from high-speed motion-picture records, time-history acceleration records, and visual observations. It was concluded that the airplane should be ditched at the maximum nose-high attitude with the landing flaps full down for minimum landing speed. During the ditching, the nose-wheel and bomb-bay doors probably will be torn away and the rear of the fuselage flooded. A violent dive will very likely occur. Longitudinal decelerations of approximately 5g and vertical accelerations of approximately -6g (including gravity) will be experienced near the pilots' compartment. Ditching braces installed in the bomb bay will tend to improve the behavior slightly but will be torn away along with the bomb-bay doors. A hydroflap installed ahead of the nose-wheel doors will eliminate the dive and failure of the nose-wheel doors, and substantially reduce the motions and accelerations.

Report presenting an investigation of the hydrodynamic take-off and landing characteristics of a model of a hypothetical jet- and rocket-propelled high-speed airplane fitted with various designs of a single monoplane hydrofoil mounted near the center of gravity. This testing is performed to determine the feasibility of the water-based operation of high-speed airplanes. Results regarding the general hydrodynamic characteristics, development of hydrofoils, and effects of some hydrofoil parameters are provided.

Report presenting an investigation in free flight of the rolling effectiveness of plain ailerons in conjunction with wings having 0 and 45 degrees sweepback with several airfoil sections. Results regarding the rolling characteristics of rectangular and sweptback-wing configurations and drag measurements are provided.