This technical report represents a brief survey of work by this project on the effects of ultraviolet radiation (UV) on certain of the photochemical and metabolic properties of rhubarb chard and sugar beet (Beta vulgaris). These plants were selected for this work because for some years they have been used as sources of chloroplasts for Hill reaction studies in this laboratory. Some of this work has appeared as a brief paper.

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Report presenting an experimental airplane crash in order to study the performance of a prototype crash-fire inerting system for reciprocating-engine-powered airplanes. A fire did not occur during this crash, indicating that the crash-fire inerting system functioned satisfactorily as a complete unit. Further improvements in the crash-fire system are also provided.

From abstract: "Plamons (plasma-magnetic entities) are toroidal "packages" of plasma wrapped up in their own magnetic field. Experimental evidence for the existence of plasmons is adduced and theoretical considerations concerning their various types and their stability are discussed."

One uranium tensile specimen irradiated to 620 MWD/T (1.75 x 10{sup 20} nvt) was tested at 285 C (545 F). The values obtained were: ultimate tensile strength 71,000 psi, 0.1% offset yield strength 70,000 psi, percent elongation (one inch gage length) 0.7, and modulus of elasticity 12 x 10{sup 6}. These values are comparable to the as-irradiated values of specimens tested at room temperature which were: ultimate tensile strength 76,000 psi, 0.1% offset yield strength 71,500 psi, and percent elongation (one inch gage length) 0.36. The elongation of the specimen tested at 285 C was less than that of a specimen annealed at 700 C (1290 F) after irradiation, then tested at room temperature. Experiments have been initiated to determine the structural stability of irradiated uranium-silicon alloy when this alloy is in the stable epsilon phase. Present work is limited to the evaluation of thermal expansion as a criterion for degree of epsilonization. This technique has not proven satisfactory. The damage resulting from the bombardment of uranium with electrons in the 1-2 MEV range is to be evaluated using electrical resistivity and x-ray diffraction to determine the extent of the damage. Calculations indicate a threshold energy of about 1.25 MEV …

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A new type of flexible hose connector consisting of a Teflon tube enclosed in a stainless steel wire braid sheath was proposed for use on 105-C rear face in late 1954. A test was initiated to determine the suitability of Teflon, and specifically Fluoroflex Teflon compound for rear face application. Probable useful life limit is estimated at 10⁶ R, which would be attained in about three years in contact with fresh effluent.

Report presenting an investigation in the 16-foot transonic tunnel to determine the lateral-control effectiveness of differentially deflected horizontal-tail surfaces mounted behind a 45 degree sweptback wing-fuselage combination. The effectiveness of the differentially deflected horizontal tail as a lateral-control device was found to be essentially independent of angle of attack and Mach number even in the transonic region. Results regarding the effects of differential deflection of horizontal-tail surfaces and effects of the vertical tail are provided.

Estimation of internal facilities required in the high-flux pile for research on materials for power-producing piles and components.

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Report presenting an investigation to determine the static longitudinal and lateral stability characteristics of an airplane configuration with a trapezoidal wing with modified hexagonal airfoil section and a cruciform tail with 5 degree semiangle wedge section. Data were obtained at a range of angles of attack and sideslip.

From Summary: "It is demonstrated with the aid of similitude arguments that a model launched from a hypervelocity gun upstream through a special supersonic nozzle should experience aerodynamic heating and resulting thermal stresses like those encountered by a long-range ballistic missile entering the earth's atmosphere. This demonstration hinges on the requirements that model and missile be geometrically similar and made of the same material, and that they have the same flight speed and Reynolds number (based on conditions just outside the boundary layer) at corresponding points in their trajectories. The hypervelocity gun provides the model with the required initial speed, while the nozzle scales the atmosphere, in terms of density variation, to provide the model with speeds and Reynolds numbers over its entire trajectory."

The purpose of this report is to present a HAPO proposal for the design and construction of a high-temperature, high-pressure light water recirculation test facility for the Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Atomic Power Division This report does not attempt to justify the feasibility of site location nor does it attempt to elaborate on such technical considerations as permissible test specimen heat generation and enrichment requirements which have been covered in an earlier document. Instead, detail information is developed on the proposed design with major emphasis on detail descriptions of the proposed loop and auxiliaries, design and construction scheduling and costs, and operating costs.

Report presenting information on the engine performance variations resulting from bleeding air from the compressor for turbine cooling, which is currently lacking. A thermodynamic-cycle investigation was conducted to determine the magnitude of the performance variations for a wide range of operating conditions for turboprop engines and for both afterburning and nonafterburning turbojet engines.

Nine technical studies were approved for funding. Discussions at the meeting centered around safety and work schedules. Appendices contain information on Financial status, the Separations program, the Analytical Chemistry program, and the Technical Division studies that were approved at the meeting.

Report discussing testing of a multijet 60 degree delta-wing airplane configuration with twin-engine exhausts at specified locations under the wing. Data was obtained for jet-on and jet-off conditions between a range of Mach numbers. Results are presented for the effect of jet on drag, jet effect on lift, static longitudinal stability, and dynamic longitudinal stability.

Major additions to separations facilities may be required because of increased reactor power levels, reduced exposures; changes in slug specifications, obsolescence of existing solvent extraction plants or development of new separations processes with lower operating costs. The magnitude of first costs for a separations plant is so large as to discourage production planning which would require an additional major separations facility. Experience in separations design has shown that certain process and equipment changes, if they could be developed, would significantly reduce the capital investment in a separations facility. Accordingly design development for a new separations facility is under way. The purposes of this document are to present the results of the first separation design study directed toward a new solvent extraction plant and to summarize process, plant, and equipment changes which should be developed to achieve significant capital and operating cost reduction.

Report presenting an exploration of fuel temperatures, which includes variables such as the aircraft speed, flight time, flight altitude, materials of construction, location of fuel tanks relative to aircraft skin and hot engine parts, and other factors. The results illustrate that it is impossible to predict quantitatively the fuel temperatures that will be attained in aircraft without detailed design information on each machine.

A plutonium solution of known Pu-241 content was purified by solvent extraction techniques to remove uranium and americium impurities. Portions of this purified solution were then analyzed for U-237 as a function of time. Since the growth of U-237 occurs directly by the alpha decay of Pu-241, these measurements provided sufficient data for calculation of the Pu-241 alpha half-life, which was found to be 2.91 ± 0.50 x 10⁵ years.

Report presenting an investigation of a configuration with a body of fineness ratio 16.9, a 52.5 degree sweptback wing of aspect ratio 3, taper ratio 0.2, and NACA 65A004 airfoil section, and an incline tail which was aeropulsed continuously in pitching during free flight with and without a sustainer rocket motor operating. The Mach number range covered was from 1.4 to 2.3. Results regarding drag, total normal force and pitching moment, wing normal-force-curve slope, flow conditions at the horizontal tail, and cross coupling are provided.

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"Aerodynamic forces and moments have been obtained in the Langley 9- by 12-inch blowdown tunnel on an external store and on a 45 degree swept-back wing-body combination measured separately at Mach numbers from 0.70 to 1.96. The wing was cantilevered and had an aspect ratio of 4.0; the store was independently sting-mounted and had a Douglas Aircraft Co. (DAC) store shape. The angle of attack range was from -3 degrees to 12 degrees and the Reynolds number (based on wing mean aerodynamic chord) varied from 1.2 x10(6) to 1.7 x 10(6)" (p. 1).

W. J. O`Leary and R. R. Herries visited BMI to review the progress of subcontract research on extended surface fuel elements and on consolidation of Horizons` thorium. 1. Corrosion samples, 1in. diameter {times} 0.180in. thick nickel-plated uranium, which had been press-clad with aluminum at 510{degree}C and 6000 psi, have been on test for 18 days with no evidence of undercutting. Similar samples press-clad with 10,000 psi have been exposed for 7 days with no failures. 2. The hydrogen and chlorine content of as-received Horizons` electrolytic thorium was greatly reduced during vacuum sintering and arc melting. 3. A second lot of Horizons` thorium has been compacted and sintered to provide electrodes for two 9-10 lb. melts. 4. Diffusion couples are being annealed and examined in order to determine the rate of solid solution diffusion of thorium in aluminum.

W.J. O`Leary and R.R. Herries visited BMI in company with C.C. McBride, SRL, to discuss the results of subcontract research on the extended surface fuel element program and to discuss with BMI personnel the programs included in the recent contract extension. A summary of results are given in the following. Double and triple melts from two 9--10 pound ingots of arc-melted Horizon`s thorium showed decreasing porosity. Physical and chemical data, on these as well as on eight previous double melted ingots, are being obtained. The problems involved in obtaining uniform castings of uranium-aluminum alloy for co-extrusion billets were discussed, with emphasis upon those phases to be investigated at BMI. A program was outlined to evaluate the effects of outgassing, by vacuum annealing, on the corrosion resistance of nickel-plated uranium. Data obtained from diffusion studies at BMI show that the mutual diffusion at high temperatures of thorium and aluminum is slow, with the diffusion of the thorium into the aluminum proceeding somewhat faster than that of the aluminum into the thorium. Possible methods of applying an inner cladding of aluminum to a tubular uranium fuel element were discussed. ``Half-dollar`` size uranium corrosion samples, nickel-plated and press-clad with 30-mil aluminum at 10 …