This paper describes an alternative library of elementary functions prepared for use with the standard Fortran compiler under 4.2 BSD UNIX on a VAX 11/780. The library, written in C and based on the book ''Software Manual for the Elementary Functions'' by Cody and Waite, offers improved accuracy over the standard system library, as well as additional capabilities. Listings and output from the ELEFUNT suite of test programs are included in the appendix.

Heat transfer in evacuated-tube solar collectors with heat-pipe absorbers is compared with that for similar collectors with flow-through absorbers. In systems that produce hot water or other heated fluids, the heat-pipe absorber suffers a heat transfer penalty compared with the flow-through absorber, but in many cases the penalty can be minimized by proper design at the heat-pipe condenser and system manifold. The heat transfer penalty decreases with decreasing collector heat loss coefficient, suggesting that evacuated tubes with optical concentration are more appropriate for use with heat pipes than evacuated or non-evacuated flat-plate collectors. When the solar collector is used to drive an absorption chiller, the heat-pipe absorber has better heat transfer characteristics than the flow-through absorbers.

This report documents the design considerations and test results of two heat extraction systems for the ANL Research Salt Gradient Solar Pond (RSGSP). Since operation began in November 1980, the RSGSP has been used to study a wide variety of solar pond phenomena, and the behavior of the RSGSP without heat extraction has been well characterized. Heat extraction equipment was installed in the spring of 1984, with heat extraction experiments conducted the following summer and fall and in the fall of 1985. The experiments simulated the use of the solar pond for grain drying. The effects of both heat extraction methods on the stability of the salt gradient are investigated.

The influence of gamma irradiation on the reaction of actinide-doped borosilicate glass (SRL 165) in a saturated tuff environment has been studied in a series of tests lasting up to 56 days. The following conclusions were reached. The reaction of, and subsequent actinide release from, the glass depends on the dynamic interaction between radiolysis effects, which cause the solution pH to become more acidic; glass reaction, which drives the pH more basic; and test component interactions that may extract glass components from solution. The use of large gamma irradiation dose rates to accelerate reactions that may occur in an actual repository radiation field may affect this dynamic balance by unduly influencing the mechanism of the glass-water reaction. Comparisons between the present results and data obtained by reacting similar glasses using MCC-1 and NNWSI rock cup procedures indicate that the irradiation conditions used in the present experiments do not dramatically influence the reaction rate of the glass.

The performance of programs executing on vector computers is significantly improved when the number of accesses to memory can be reduced. Unrolling Fortran DO loops, followed by substitutions and eliminations in the unrolled code, can reduce the number of loads and stores. The unrolling transformation and associated transformations of Fortran DO loops are characterized, and a set of software tools to carry out these transformations is described. The tools use the machinery available in Toolpack and have been integrated into that environment. The results of applying these tools to a collection of linear algebra subroutines are included.

Proper charging is essential to achieve maximum performance and life of lead-acid batteries. Excessive overcharging gives rise to increased battery temperature, gassing rates, electrolyte maintenance, and component corrosion, whereas repeated undercharging causes a gradual decrease in battery capacity, which often becomes irreversible. To develop an optimal charge procedure, the relation between battery available capacity, applied overcharge, and the depth-of-discharge (DOD) level prior to charging needed to be established.

Abstract: The National Bureau of Standards is establishing a National Cold Neutron Facility at its 20 MW reactor located in Gaithersburg, Maryland. In order to provide guidance in the development of research plans for the Facility, the Department of Energy and NBS sponsored, on November 14-15, 1985, a workshop on the Investigation of Fundamental Interactions with Cold Neutrons. The 25 papers presented at the workshop are printed in the proceedings.

This is a report on the observational study over the population and findings of monk seal on Lisianski Island in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. This report summarizes the data taken during the time-frame between the 25th of April and the 9th of August, 1983.

From abstract: This report documents a monitoring program to assess the effectiveness of SEASCAPE®, an artificial seaweed for temporarily stabilizing the shoreline fronting the lighthouse at Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.