From abstract: "This report summarizes the past year of study of fine, molded, multicrystalline graphites with particular reference to the interrelation among certain properties with the composition, fabricating techniques, and thermal treatments found to influence them."

Quarterly report describing progress on a project to develop and evaluate high-temperature tungsten alloys. This report discusses initial experiments to compare different alloy combinations.

Report discussing part of a study that aims to understand plasma stability and confinement in mirror geometries.

Summary. The analysis of the motion of a six-bar linkage is difficult because of the large number of variables involved and the large number of calculations that have to be made for each position of the linkage. If a digital computer is used to make the calculations required for a multi-position analysis of a mechanism, it is feasible to design by analyzing a large numbers of similar linkages and selecting the optimum configuration. In this paper expressions have been derived for the output angle as a function of the input angle and the transmission angle as a function of the input angle for any single-degree-of-freedom six-bar linkage for which the parameters are known An example showing the usefulness of a six-bar computer program as a mechanism design tool is discussed.

Abstract. The waveform or character of a refraction arrival has become internationally important because of its use in determining source parameters. An approximate theoretical machine calculation has been made to show the effect of layering above a refractor on the character of the refraction arrival. The method is illustrated with a geologic model taken from the Edwards Plateau area of West Texas. The effect of the Edwards limestone, Comanche, and Trinity formations on the refraction from the Pennsylvanian limestone is computed. The conversion of energy in theses upper layers from compressional to shear plays a significant role in forming the refraction character. An anticlinal structure is introduced into the Pennsylvanian limestone and it is argued that, in a first approximation, the wave in the Pennsylvanian limestone follow the structure, refracting off at the critical angle as before. Now, however, the angle of incidence on the base of the Trinity is a function of the angle of the structure. Since the amplitudes of converted waves depends n this angle, The character of the refraction arrival depends in a predictable way on the angle in the structure where the critical refraction has taken lace. These results are theoretical and only approximate, but …

The wide use of liquid oxygen as an oxidant in rocket engines has resulted in an increased interest in low-temperature heat transfer. Storage tanks for this type of application, being uninsulated, contain a boiling-liquid low-temperature sink, which is susceptible to environmental heat inputs and subsequent liquid loss by vaporization. Such losses are difficult to predict due to the complex combination of ambient conditions which exist, and the lack of knowledge concerning their combined effects. Heat transfer in this field is difficult to analyze primarily because of its transient nature. This is a result of such factors as: (1) the growth of an insulating frost layer on the outer surface of the container, with its accompanying energy transfer to the system; (2) the temperature dependent convective air pattern that surrounds the container, (3) the transfer of radiant energy to the system, and (4) the mechanical failure of the frost itself with subsequent sloughing from the container wall. A lack of knowledge regarding the coefficient of diffusion of water vapor through air and the thermal conductivity of frost in this depressed temperature range further complicates the predictions of heat transfer.

This paper describes the measurement of control rod strength in the PCTR. The first section outlines the theory and method of such a measurement, and the second section presents the results of the measurement of the Experimental Gas Cooled Reactor (EGCR) control rod strength. The reactor parameter actually inferred is the difference in the infinitive multiplication factor for a control rod supercell with and without the control rod in place in the supercell. These measurements are, therefore, very closely related to the measurement of k∞ for an ordinary lattice cell.

High speed data handling and computing systems are coming into increasing use in the automatic control of complex industrial processes. One of the next significant developments in reactor design is believed to be the application of high speed data handling and control systems to nuclear reactors. This document is a study of such a system intended for use with the Plutonium Recycle Test Reactor.

The design of NPR shows large quantities of carbon steel pipe and fittings in the front and rear face areas. These are also the area where the most work must be done during an outage, and consequently lower radiation levels are needed here than elsewhere in the piping system. A single pass decontamination of the front and rear piping without going through the entire loop is desirable. Because of the quantities of chemicals and available down time, an effective shorty interval process is needed. This report gives some recent laboratory data on this subject.

From Abstract: "The methods used at the National Bureau of Standards in calibrating line standards of length and measuring tapes submitted for standardization are outlined. The equipment used is described briefly. There is a discussion of some considerations that should be given as to whether or not a standard should be submitted to the Bureau."

From Abstract: "Sources of error in measuring pressures are described in considerable detail, particularly for portable instruments including scale, temperature , gravity, capillarity, vacuum errors and return gas column. Methods of minimizing those errors and of making the corrections, including extensive tables, are presented."

The problem of the reduction of an arbitrary truth function to the minimal union of basic cells is discussed. The solution to this problem has applications to pattern recognition and logical circuit design. An algorithm is presented that solves the problem and generates the class of minimal unions. It partitions an arbitrary truth function into a well-defined set of subfunctions (components) in such a way that the partition is invariant under all transformations that preserve the topology of the original truth function.

Procedures for the separation and concentration of microgram to nanogram amounts of thallium from gram amounts to galena and meteorite metal, sulfide, and silicate phases were developed and are described. The thallium is extracted from aqueous bromide of chloride solutions of moderate acidity using diethyl ether. A device for elimination of the large volumes of solvent by dropwise evaporation is described. Organic matter in the residue is destroyed by treatment with aqua regia, and the thallium is the residue is converted to the nitrate for spectrochemical or mass-spectrometric examination. The presence of thallium in the residue is tested by Rhodamine B. test.

Program using the IBM-704 computer to calculate certain kinematic quantities for any non-relativistic reaction of the form.

Report that briefly describes many of the models of crystal and molecular structures which have appeared in the literature, and presents a bibliography of the publications, grouped according to model types, which describe the models in more detail.

"A number of mixtures of polymers and multi-unsaturated monomers have been prepared and irradiated. The content of insoluble gel of irradiated samples of these polymer-monomer mixtures has been determined by extraction."

A variable-length vacuum-insulated liquid hydrogen transfer line is described. The vacuum system is semi-permanent, and segments of the line are assembled with only threaded vacuum fittings. Thermal stress calculations are presented for a statically indeterminate union coupling.

In the past several years the use of neutron monitors for Pu concentration monitoring has been expanded in the Chemical Processing Department. Most of these monitors have been quite successful, and considerable effort is being made to improve the operation of both existing and future monitoring systems. One of the major improvements has been the development and use of a transistorized pre-amplifier or impedance matching circuits. This unit solves several problems associated with the use of boron trifluoride (BF3) neutron detectors in process monitoring; e.g., vacuum tube pre-amp failure because heat is not being conducted away.

The evaluation of the inductance of an electrical component is often important in understanding and operating an electrical circuit. Inductance is defined by several equations, the most common being e= -L d1/dt . This equation defines inductance as the constant which relates the back emf produced in an element to the time-rate-of-change of current.

The Model Q-1212C Pulser is a single frequency (60 pps) generator whose output waveform is characterized by a rise-time of less than 4 mµsec and, depending upon the method of termination, an exponential decay having a time constant of 300 or 600µsec. The waveform approximates that produced by a radiation detector. The waveform approximates that produced by a radiation detector. The maximum available output from the instrument is 10 volts, positive or negative polarity, and is continuously adjustable by means of step switches and a 10-turn potentiometer. The potentiometer has a linearity of 0.1%.

The thermal-neutron flux prevailing near the upper hole in the HRE-2 core wall was determined from measurements of the induced activity in a specimen cut from the edge of the hole. The specimen was removed following run 21 and was thus exposed to reactor neutrons during runs 13, 14, 16,17, 18. 19, 20, and 21. The neutron flux, calculated for an average core power level of 2 Mw, was 2.8 x10^13 neutrons/cm^2 sec. the core wall area from which the specimen was removed was located approximately 16-in. from the core center.