Investigation of aqueous and steam corrosion at elevated temperature has been carried on at Hanford for several tears. A number of reports have been published on various phases of the corrosion program but, except for monthly reports, little has been written on the progress of the Corrosion and Coatings Operation alloy development program. This interim report will outline the more important current phases of the aluminum alloy program.

Introduction. High voltage silicon mass transistors have the ability to perform circuit functions similar to the gas thyratron tube. Upon being triggered the transistor junction breaks down, or "avalanches", and can conduct a large current for a short time. The rise time of the avalanche breakdown pulse can be short, and the delay between triggering and avalanching can be short and very consistent. This avalanche action is non-destructive if the amount of peak and average power being dissipated at the junction is limited by the circuitry.

Discussing photographs of rocks from Basalt Mesa

In the continuing search for better methods of effecting the secondary fusion welded closure in Alsi bonded aluminum clad uranium metal fuel element, an article on "The Twin-Argon Welding Process" by J. A. Donellon was recently found in the September 1954 issue if the British Welding Journal. From a review of the article, the process appeared to have enough possibilities to warrant exploring it. Communication were established with the General Electric Company, Ltd..

A study was made of a method for the flame photometric determination of iron. In Part I of this report, the flame emission spectrum of iron, measured by means of a Beckman Model DU spectrophotometer with a flame attachment, is compated to that measured with an ORNL high-sensitivity, recording, single-beam instrument, in order to determine which instrument is best suited for this application. Although it was found that the Beckman product has the higher resolving power over the wavelength region of 360 to 400mu, it does no posses the sensitivity or ease of operation of the ORNL instrument. On this basis, the ORNL flame spectrophotometer is used in subsequent tests. After selecting the best-suited instrument for the flame photometric determination of iron, it was necessary to establish the optimum operating conditions for this particular method. These conditions are described in Part II.

Abstract: "The niobium-carbon system has been determined by X-ray and metallographic examination of sintered and arc-cast alloys. Two carbides exist: hexagonal Nb2C with a limited range of homogeneity, and cubic NbC with a solubility range from 8.25 to 10.25 weight per cent carbon. Dilute alloys freeze by eutectic reaction at 2230 C. The solubility of carbon in niobium is 0.80 at the eutectic temperature, but this decreases rapidly with temperature. Metallographic evidence indicates a peritectic reaction between melt, Nb2C, and NbC; alloys richer in carbon than NbC freeze by eutectic reaction."

"A wind-tunnel investigation was made to determine the effects on the aerodynamic characteristics of a 35 degree swept-wing airplane of applying area-suction boundary-layer control to the trailing-edge flaps. Flight tests of a similar airplane were then conducted to determine the effect of boundary-layer control in the handling qualities and operation of the airplane, particularly during landing. The wind-tunnel and flight tests indicated that area suction applied to the trailing-edge flaps produced significant increases in flap lift increment" (p. 1).

Report discussing experiments on particle density, plasma compression, electron heating, and electron energy distribution of plasma in a pyrotron. Past experiments that led to this investigation are discussed as well.

General considerations involving the transportation of irradiated fuel and radioactive wastes are reviewed. It is assumed that many reactors will supply feed to a few large multipurpose chemical plants which ultimately send radioactive waste to a few disposal sites. General economic considerations of irradiated fuel reprocessing, economic aspects of the nuclear economy complex, growth predictions of the nuclear power economy in the U.S., general requirements for the shipment of fuel and waste, regulations applicable to fuel shipment, and permissible radiation levels are discussed.

Abstract: "Fabrication techniques for producing dispersion fuel elements with cores of 30 volume per cost of UC, U2Tl, U3Si, or U6Ni dispersed in Zircology 2 and 30 volume per cent of UC or UN dispersed in Type 18-8 stainless steel have been investigated. Roll-clad plate-type elements of all these compositions may be fabricated by powder-metallurgy methods in such a manner that good core-to-cladding bonds and cores with uniform dispersions of discrete uranium-composed particles are obtained. From the standpoint of fabricability, elements containing UC is Zircology 2, UC in stainless steel, and UN in stainless steel are the most promising. The UN in stainless steel has the best corrosion resistance in 680 F degassed water; however, UC in stainless steel has the best resistance to corrosion in 700 F NaK."

From abstract: "This bibliography consists of reports compiled from the AEC Library Card Catalog. Only the Classified and Unclassified report literature is included. For the published literature the reader is referred to an unpublished paper by V. Carson (UCRL - Livermore Library)" titled "Radioactive Waste Disposal" (April 25, 1957). "All progress reports covering the work have been omitted in order to exclude a large amount of duplicate information which is usually found in more detail in topical reports."

The development of ionic methods for the determination of corrosion products in the highly radioactive Homogeneous Reactor (HR) fuels has been of major interest in the work of the Ionic Analyses Laboratory. Methods for the spectrophotometric determination of aluminum and for the polarographic determination of iron in HR fuels have been developed. The polarographic determination of molybdenum in uranyl sulfate solutions was studied. A polarographic method for the determination of zinc was developed. A fluorometric method for the determination of microgram amounts of fluoride was studied. Three organic reagents were investigated as precipitants for microgram quantities of zirconium in HR fuel. The automatic photometric titration technique was applied to the determination of thorium and of sulfate. A method was developed for the ionexchange separation and potentiometric titration of cobalt. The ultraviolet absorption spectra of technetium and rhenium were studied.

Pressure distributions for a series of four boattailed bodies of revolution were obtained and compared with theory for a Mach number of 3.12, a Reynolds number range of 2 x 10 to 6th power to 14 x 10 to the 6th power, and angles of attack from zero to 9 degrees. Second-order theory adequately predicted the pressure distribution for regions free of the effects of cross-flow separation.

Report presenting the effect of channel geometry on flame quenching, as calculated on the basis of average active particle chain lengths, is related among six different geometries: plane parallel plates of infinite extent, cylindrical tubes, rectangular slots, cylindrical annuli, and tubes of elliptical and equilaterally triangular shape. The results indicated that the observed variation of flame quenching as a function of quenching geometry may be successfully predicted for a range of pressures and for rich as well as lean propane-air flames.

Report describing a supersonic-compressor rotor designed as an impulse-type with some deceleration along the tip and with turning to the axial direction. Results regarding the overall performance, inlet flow distribution, results of rotor-outlet surveys, blade element performance at 90 percent design speed, and blade element performance at open throttle are provided.

Memorandum presenting an investigation of the performance of inlet configurations with a forebody designed for isentropic external compression at a nominal Mach number of 5.6. At zero angle of attack, all the configurations yielded larger total-pressure recoveries than had previously been obtained with a single-conical-shock inlet. Results regarding the flow about the forebody, inlet performance, and performance comparisons are provided.

Memorandum presenting an investigation of the performance of inlet configurations with a forebody designed for isentropic external compression at a nominal Mach number of 5.6. At zero angle of attack, all of the configurations yielded larger total-pressure recoveries than had previously been obtianed with a single-conical-shock inlet. Results regarding the flow about the forebody and performance comparisons are provided.

Report presenting an investigation in the high-speed tunnel to determine the effects on the chordwise pressure distributions of deflecting a flap-type aileron on a swept wing. The semispan 35 degree sweptback wing had an NACA 65A006 airfoil section, an aspect ratio of 4, and a taper ratio of 0.6.

Report presenting the aerodynamic characteristics of several wing-fuselage combinations measured at a Mach number of 0.25. Each combination consisted of a triangular wing with an aspect ratio of 2.0 and body of revolution with a fineness ratio of 12.5. Results regarding wings in the presence of bodies, wing-body combinations, and dorsal fins are provided.

Report discussing an investigation to determine the effect of wing leading-edge chord-extensions and drooped leading-edge flaps on the spin and spin-recovery characteristics of models of two swept-wing fighter airplanes. The investigation included chord-extensions in the plane of the wing and chord-extensions deflected in combination with drooped leading-edge flaps. The chord extensions were not found to have an appreciable effect on spin or spin-recovery characteristics when installed in the plane of the wing.

Through the efforts of the Hanford Engineer Works a quantity of neptunium-237 was separated from uranium waste solutions by a modification of the standard plutonium precipitation process, This material, as concentrates, was shipped to Argonne for final isolation and purification of the neptunium.

"These notes are intended to serve as a summary of the current knowledge of properties of materials. In the future some need may exist for related information on methods od testing, design and fabrication. This issue presents information on thorium with subdivisions..."

Report presenting an investigation in the transonic tunnel on a submerged inlet with a divergent-walled approach ramp to determine flow phenomena, pressure recovery, and external forces to provide correlation with available data obtained on similar inlets. Results regarding the pressure characteristics, aerodynamic forces, and performance comparisons are provided.

From Introduction: "The results of this complete evaluation of the altitude performance and operational characteristics of the two types of flame-holder and fuel-system configurations are reported herein.The starting limits of both configurations at a flight Mach number of 0.6 are also discussed."