Annual report with the objectives of evaluating, producing, and maintaining an up-to-date set of basic nuclear data; producing and evaluating multigroup constants; and improving of present day methods of neutronic calculations as related to microscopic and macroscopic nuclear data, for unclassified research sponsored by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission during FY 1968.

Quarterly report with the objectives of evaluating, producing, and maintaining of an up-to-dat set of basic nuclear data; producing and evaluating of multigroup constants; and the improvement of present day methods of neutronic calculations as relates to microscopic and macroscopic nuclear data, for unclassified research sponsored by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission during FY 1968.

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.

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."

Graphs have been made which show the nuclearly safe parameters for uranium rods in light water with uranium enrichments up to five weight percent U-235. These data were to serve as a guide to those persons who may be involved with the maintenance of nuclear safety in handling and processing operations with slightly enriched uranium fuel elements. The data are applicable to fuel element fabrication and processing operations, and in general to those operations involving the handling and storage of fuel elements apart from reactors.

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.

Thorium, a fertile material, is of interest to the Reactor Program in the production of U233. Thorium can be extracted and processed to a very pure bulk metal for fabrication into solid fertile elements. There are advantages, technical and economic, for using fabricated bulk thorium dioxide rather than the metal in some applications. It is the purpose of this paper to point out these advantages and to present briefly the technology related to fabrication, radiation damage and chemical processing of ThO2.

Report issued by the Brookhaven National Laboratory discussing a hazards report on replacing the research center's current fuel elements with new highly enriched elements. As stated in the introduction, "this report is a summary of the studies, both theoretical and experimental, which have been made so far of the nuclear properties of the "new" pile, of the stability of the new fuel elements, and of the safety and practicability of operation of the "new" pile" (p. 2). This report includes tables, and illustrations.

Activity and ionic impurity specifications are presented for Thorex thorium nitrate products. Two sets of specifications are given, one set for direct handling during refabrication of production reactor thorium metal slugs and the second for refabrication of future power reactor thorium metal elements by semi-remote technics. Consideration was given to the health hazard problems associated with each process step between the Thorex process and final refabricated source material in order to arrive at these specifications.

A generalization of the Lindemann law is used in connection with the Murnaghan equation of state for a solid to derive theoretically the empirical Simon equation for the fusion curve. For the alkali metals it is shown that experimental values of the temperature exponent in the Simon equation are quantitatively compatible with the theoretical evaluation given, and, furthermore, that the theory can predict approximate values of the experiment, in practice.

In this document, simple modes are used to demonstrate the importance of different material effects on predicted material behavior. This document should help one understand the basic assumptions made in stress analysis.

The effects of variables on the rate of Purex solvent deterioration were investigated with the emphasis on those deterioration products which cannot be removed by carbonate washing. The deterioration rate was found to be directly proportional to the acid and nitrate ion concentrations, and proportional to the square root of the concentration of nitrite ion. Other observations on the effects of temperature, relative merits of brand name solvents, and the effects of radiation are included. A method of calculating the equilibrium level of the solvent deterioration products based on study conclusions and various estimates is outlined.

From Introduction: "This paper presents the results of an investigation conducted in the Langley 11-inch hypersonic tunnel to evaluate methods of increasing maximum lift-drag ratio."

From introduction: "The present paper deals with a classical calculation in which some of the meson effects can be included to all orders in the meson-nucleon coupling coupling constant, in particular those having to do with the gyration of the nucleon spin and isotopic spin. Such a treatment leads to results qualitatively different from the weak coupling calculations."

Report presenting flight measurements of the buffeting characteristics of the Bell X-5 airplane at 58.7 degrees of sweepback at a range of Mach numbers and altitudes. Information about tail buffeting and wing buffeting at several angles of attack is provided. The pilot considered the buffeting to be unobjectionable throughout the entire test region.

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Report discussing the progress made on various research projects at North American Aviation during the quarter from January to March 1954.

Report presenting an investigation in the transonic tunnel to determine the basic aerodynamic and loading characteristics of an unswept-wing-fuselage combination with a wing of aspect ratio 4, taper ratio 0.5, and NACA 65A004 airfoil sections. Force, moment, and pressure measurements were obtained for a range of Mach numbers and angles of attack.

The following report provides data describing the total electron beam current as a function of A-12 beam radius. The beam is investigated using the provided equations.

Report presenting a method for calculating the lift distribution due to twist which gives a closer approximation than the current Schrenk empirical method and requires about the same amount of computing. The method uses the lifting-line theory and makes use of the lift distribution due to angle of attack and considers the aspect ratio of the wing. Examples are presented for four main types of twist: symmetrical, antisymmetrical, continuous, and discontinuous.

The problems of static and dynamic longitudinal stability both at high speeds and at low speeds are discussed and data are presented which indicate recent progress made in the solution of these problems.

Report presenting an investigation of the problems of static and dynamic longitudinal stability both at high speeds and low speeds as well as information about progress that has been made to solve these problems. The incorporation of large amounts of sweepback on both the wing and horizontal tail can improve the rate of trim changes and stability. Longitudinal stability has been attained for configurations with a sweep angle of 45 degrees with stall-control devices, but experimental proof is needed for these devices.

Report presenting an investigation of the properties of hydrazine, stability and corrosiveness with a number of construction materials, sensitivity to detonation and temperature, and spontaneous reaction with the oxidants, concentrated hydrogen peroxide, sodium permanganate solution, fuming nitric acid, and tetranitromethane. Results regarding corrosion and stability, sensitivity to temperature and detonation, and theoretical calculations are provided.

An investigation is being conducted to determine the altitude performance characteristics of the British Nene II engine and its components. The present paper presents the preliminary results obtained using a standard jet nozzle. The test results presented are for conditions simulating altitudes from sea level to 60,000 feet and ram pressure ratios from 1.0 to 2.3. These ram pressure ratios correspond to flight Mach numbers between zero and 1.16 assuming a 100 percent ram recovery.