The following report is the final technical report on a series of reports under contract AT(11-1)-515, titled "Niobium Phase Diagrams", covering the period from April 15, 1957 to April 16, 1960.

From introduction: A thorough investigation, both experimental and theoretical was carried out on plaque type radiators. Five phases of the work are reported: preliminary design analysis, experimental measurements, computational program and analytical studies, followed by a general discussion of source design principles. The results are summarized in graphs and formulae which may be applied to other design requirements.

Abstract: A loop has been constructed to study the removal of water and highly volatile materials from Organic Moderated Reactor coolant by vacuum degasification. An analysis of the process was made to determine the most important parameters for study during the experimental program.

Abstract: Accurate measurement of OMRE fuel-element surface temperatures is important for evaluation of the performance of organic compound as moderator and coolant materials in nuclear reactors; a mixture of polyphenyls has been used in reactor operation to-date.

Abstract: The influence of plutonium on the nuclear characteristics of organic moderated cores is studied.

Abstract: Equipment has been developed to handle the fuel elements and control rods for the Piqua (OMR) reactor.With the handling machine, which consists of a shielded cask mounted on a gantry, a fuel element can be replaced in the core in about 27 minutes.

Introduction: Development of a process for manufacturing fuel elements for the Yankee reactor and fabrication and testing of a prototype assembly is reported.

Abstract: Tests were performed to determine the effect of thermal cycling on the across-the-seat leakage characteristics of commercially available valves considered for use in the sodium coolant system of the Hallam Nuclear Power Facility.

Abstract: A method is given for the rapid and accurate numerical integration of integrals of the form [integral] [superscript infinity] [subscript infinity] f(x) [golden ratio constant] (x) dx, where f(x) is "smooth."

The Topopah Spring and Timber Mountain 15-minute quadrangles comprising about 500 square miles in southern Nye County, Nev., are bounded by longitudes 116°15' W. and 116°30' W. and by latitudes 36°45' N. and 37°15' N. (fig. 1) The quadrangles are mostly within the Nevada Test Site and are approximately 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas (fig. 1). Lathrop Wells, the nearest town, is about 10 miles south of the southern boundary of the Topopah Spring quadrangle.

From introduction: This report summarizes the location, gross geologic features, and natural resources of the major sedimentary basins in the United States, excluding Alaska and Hawaii.

A crystallographic study of the transition element beryllides was undertaken in support of phase diagram work. These beryllides are very high melting, and the use of ordinary methods make it difficult to determine stoichiometry. We have succeeded in establishing the compositions and complete crystal structure description of all of the room temperature stable or metastable compounds of the beryllides of niobium, tantalum, titanium zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, chromium and molybdenum. Since some of the structures found were not previously reported, complete structure determinations had to be done.

Abstracts. Results are given for bulk-density and pulse-velocity measurements performed on specimens of the Project Hobo medium. Test techniques, sample handling, and specimen preparation are described. Values are tabulated in terms of sample origin and geological identity.

Abstract. Three groups of 100 foot holes were drilled vertically downward from the floor of U 12e main tunnel and U 123.03 drift at the Nevada Test Site. Distances between holes in each group varied from 13 to 375 feet. One hole in each group was used a a 'shot hole'; the others for seismometers to records the energy generated in the 'shot hole'. Two types of recordings were made. One for dilatational or longitudinal "P" waves and one for transverse or shear "S" waves. Simultaneous recordings were made on photographic paper and on magnetic belts with a minimum of three "specimen" records at each hole, for each type of recording. The magnetic belts were transcribed to 1/2 inch IRIG tape for computer use. Rock density measurements were also made in the holes. From these data Poisson's Ratio, Bulk Modulus, Rigidity Modulus, and Young's Modulus were computed. Elastic constant values obtained 'in sltu' are much higher than those determined by soils laboratory tests on small rock samples. The data obtained are considered to be of exceptionally high accuracy.

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 peacetime application of nuclear explosives to the conservation and development of our national water resources is, at this time, of sufficient promise to present some of the possibilities publicly. In nuclear explosives man has at his disposal and service, a powerful source of energy - a new tool - that we believe can be utilized safely to excavate channels and lake basins, or to create conduits of broken permeable material and underground reservoirs. In surveying the possible applications of nuclear explosives, the following ideas are among those worthy of serious consideration: (a) the use of nuclear explosives for the economic movement of large volumes of earth in the construction of earth fill dames, (b) the use of nuclear explosives for the diversion of a stream from a river system, whose flow is largely lost to the sea, into another stream channel leading to an arid section or a closed basin, (c) the use of nuclear explosives to create a recharge basin or a conduit to a subsurface aquifer for fresh water recharge, and (d) the use of nuclear explosives to create off-channel reservoirs for the elimination of saline waters through recharge to a mineralized aquifer and by evaporation.

Discussing photographs of rocks from Basalt Mesa

This report summarizes the research and development work carried out during December, 1959, and January and February, 1960, for Budget Activity 2790 - Separations Development for Non-Production Reactors. The major effort on Activity 2790 has been completed. Current efforts on the remaining problem areas will enable Hanford to begin reprocessing fuel elements from power reactors which employ depleted or slightly enriched uranium fuels in July, 1962.

Critical mass experiments to be conducted at HAPO will require dilute and concentrated plutonium solutions. Since very high plutonium concentrations (~2,000 g/l) cannot be attained in pumpable solutions, solid plutonium compounds will be utilized for this phase of the work. Mixtures of plutonium oxide and polyethylene, methyl methacrylate or paraffin compacted in containers have been considers for use in highly-concentrated plutonium systems of known hydrogen to plutonium atomic ratio (H/Pu).

"The study of the toxicity of Ra and MsTh(Ra/sup 228/) in humans was continued. Several Thorotrast cases were also examined. Physical and clinical studies were made on 151 persons. In all cases possible gamma ray measurements were made of Ra and MsTh decay products retained in the body, alpha -ray measurements of Rn and Rn/sup 220/ in breath, a complete medical history was taken, a complete x-ray examination was made of the skeleton, and urinalysis, hematological, and blood chemistry studies were made."

At the present time, cerium-144 and premtheium-147 are the two fission product rare earths that appear most promising for use as the heat source in isotopic power units. Under proper conditions, cerium and the trivalent rare earths can be extracted from the Purex fission product waste stream as an insoluble sodium-rare earth double sulfate. A reprecipitation as the double sulfate, dissolution of the hydroxide, serves to give almost complete separation from the corrosion products, inert constituents of the waste, and from most of the fission products. The cerium and the trivalent rare earths must then be separated from each other. In the case of cerium recovery, it is necessary to remove the trivalent rare earths in order to maximize the specific activity of the cerium. If promethium is the desired product, a preliminary cerium separation is desirable to protect the ion-exchange resin (used for separating promethium from its adjacent rare earths) from the intense high-energy radiation from cerium.

Four capsules containing Al-1.65 w/o Pu and Al-12 w/o Si-1.65 w/o Pu were charged into the MTR. These capsules will be irradiated to a burnup of 80-100% of the plutonium atoms to determine the stability of the material at high exposures. An additional sixteen capsules containing 5 to 20 w/o Pu in Al and Al-Si have been prepared. Eight are awaiting reactor space and should be charged soon. The remaining eight are being recanned to increase the end gap between the core and the can. Also four capsules containing high density UO2-PuO2 pellets canned in Zircaloy are awaiting assignment of reactor space.

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."