This is the monthly report of the Hanford Laboratories Operation, March, 1957. Metallurgy, reactor fuels, chemistry, dosimetry, separation processes, reactor technology, financial activities, visits, biology operation, physics and instrumentation research, and employee relations are discussed.

From abstract: "Four plates of uranium that were fabricated by powder metallurgy techniques and clad with 1100 aluminum by hot pressing were irradiated in the Materials Testing Reactor. Increases of about one-half per cent in length and one per cent in thickness were observed after exposure of 1600 megawatt days per ton. The surfaces of the plates remained smooth."

Memorandum presenting a preliminary and theoretical investigation of the effect of velocity diagram on inlet total-pressure distortions through single-stage subsonic axial-flow compressors for incompressible flow. A theoretical investigation was used to determine proper velocity diagrams and then the wake of a 1/4-inch-diameter rod was measured upstream of the rotor. The tests indicated that the derived equation will estimate the downstream distortion with reasonable accuracy for inlet total-pressure distortion which extends far enough circumferentially to alter the static-pressure field in the blade passage.

A monthly report summarizing work perform by Babcock & Wilcox personnel for the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. In this monthly report information on the reactor design No. 10 had been selected as the LMFRE preliminary reference design, various shielding designs have bee studied, various calculations on multiregion code and reactivity have been continued, and other related to the LMFRE

From abstract: "The Crevasse Canyon formation and Point Lookout(?) sandstone of Late Cretaceous age and the Baca and Datil formations of Tertiary age were mapped in an area of 168 square miles in the upper Alamosa Creek Valley along the northern edge of the Datil Mountains, Catron County, N. Mex. The investigation was made to determine the potentialities of the area for producing uranium and to learn the geologic controls for the concentration of uranium."

The radiolytic decomposition of tributyl phosphate has been show by burr to product gases, acids, and polymers. the acids that are formed can limit the usefulness of tributyl phosphate for the processing of radioactive materials. The study of acid formation on radiolysis therefor becomes important to us for the understanding of the mechanism of acid formation, the influence of added materials and the effect of the structure of organo- phosphorous compounds. Samples of purified esters have been irradiated in the ORNL cobalt source. Conclusions: (1) The formation of acid from tributyl phosphate during irradiation with cobalt gamma rays involves a mechanism that is not a primary step. Evidence has been obtained for a secondary reaction that is minimized by the presence of certain compounds. (2) Toluene acting as an inhibitor for radiolytic formation of acid may indicate the usefulness of an aromatic hydrocarbon diluent in processing. (3) The aromatic hydrocarbon, when phenyl, was not effective when it was part of the molecule. (4) First tests revealed that dibutyl butyl-phosphonate produced less acid the TBP and may warrant further consideration for process application.

Note presenting testing of geometrically related structural joints representing typical skin-stringer cross sections under radiant heating to simulate the effects of aerodynamic heating. The presence of an interface was found to have a significant effect on the temperature distribution in all geometries tested and thus must be considered in temperature calculations. Interface conductance values were computed for each of the 15 fabricated specimens.

The following report studies uranium and vanadium ore deposits found in the Calyx No. 3 mine in the Temple Mountain area of the San Rafael Swell in Utah.

A report discussing a geologic reconnaissance of the Capitol Reef area, undertaken to evaluate the uranium deposits and determine their geologic characteristics.

The difference in rates of reaction of isotopic molecules may be utilized to produce appreciable isotope enrichments. When a competitive irreversible isotopic reaction is carried out to a high extent of completion, the residual unconverted substrate becomes exponentlally enriched in the heavier isotope. In deuterium systems, a substantial function of the D inventory is retained in the enriched residual substrate, so that conversion of the depleted product is unnecessary. For isotopes of heavier elements such as C/sup 13/, N/ sup 15/, and O/sup 18/ the retention is low, so that product conversion and recycling is desirable unless the starting material is of negligible value. Experiments are described in which enrichments of C/sup 13/ have been obtained using the reaction rate principle in dehydration of formic acid and hydrolysis of urea. Procedures are given for the preparation of decimolar barium carbonate at the level of 1.6% C/sup 13/, and molar barium carbonate at the 1.4% level starting with commercial materials. (J.R.D.)

Report presenting testing of four models of a thin magnesium fin, with the leading edge swept back 35 degrees, of a type used to stabilize the first stages of rocket-propelled multistage hypersonic models. The investigation was carried out to determine some effects of aerodynamic heating at high stagnation temperatures on the leading edges of fins and to determine the relative effectiveness of several leading-edge protective methods. The fins tested included a basic fin, a fin with a blunt leading edge, a fin with a blunt leading edge wrapped with Inconel, and a fin with a blunt leading edge made of stainless steel.

.Recalculations were made of HRT cell pressures in the event of a simultaneous rupture of the reactor core vessel and the fuel and blanket heat exchangers. These calculations will be applicable after the replacement fuel heat exchanger is installed. The pressure rise in the cell is plotted as a function of time. A maximum cell pressure of 34 psig is achieved ~7 sec after rupture.

"Skin temperatures and surface pressures have been measured on a slightly blunted cone-cylinder-flare configuration to a maximum Mach number of 9.89 with a rocket-propelled model. The cone had a total angle of 25 deg and the flare had a 10 deg half-angle. Temperature data were obtained at eight cone locations, four cylinder locations, and seven flare locations; pressures were measured at one cone location, one cylinder location, and three flare locations" (p. 1).

From Introduction: "Experimental investigations of the combustion characteristics of diborane, pentaborane, and pentaborane-hydrocarbon blends in modified turbojet combustors have been conducted at this laboratory at the request of the Bureau of Aeronautics, Department of the Navy, as part of Project Zip. Results of these single-combustor tests are presented in references 2 to 5."

Report issued by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory discussing quarterly progress of the Homogeneous Reactor Project. Progress of operations, design, development, and analysis is presented. This report includes tables, illustrations, and photographs.

Report issued by the Brookhaven National Laboratory discussing the work conducted by the lab during the fiscal year of 1956. As stated in the introduction, "the progress and trends of the research program are presented along with a description of the operational, service, and administrative activities of the Laboratory" (p. vii). This report includes tables, illustrations, and photographs.

Progress report of the Brookhaven National Laboratory Nuclear Engineering Department providing updates on various projects, experiments, and other work. This report includes a summary of scholarly output from the reactor physics division, the applied chemistry and chemical engineering division, and metallurgy division.

Note presenting tests on a power control system by means of a ground simulator to determine the effects of various combinations of valve friction and stick friction on the ability of the pilot to control the system. The results show that, when valve friction was present in a rigid system, the introduction of stick friction was beneficial in that it restored some of the quality lost because of the valve friction. Results regarding the rigid control system, flexible control system, and control system with backlash are provided.

"A highly polished hemisphere-cone having a ratio of nose radius to base radius of 0.74 and a half-angle of 14.5 degrees was flight tested at Mach numbers up to 4.70. Temperature and pressure data were obtained at Mach numbers up to 3.14 and a free-stream Reynolds number of 24 x 10(exp 6) based on body diameter. The nose of the model had a surface roughness of 2 to 5 microinches as measured with an interferometer" (p. 1).

Abstract: "Measurements have been made on pseudo-cylindrical graphite-enriched uranium unreflected systems. These measurements include both critical mass determinations and time dependent measurements using a pulsed neutron source to drive the assemblies."

Report presenting testing on six blunt-nose models at angles of attack ranging from 0 to 5 degrees in order to evaluate the heat transfer and pressure on their surfaces. Information about transition, proper design, and locations of greatest and least heat transfer is provided.

"This is a selective bibliography of books and periodical articles relating to extrusion die design with special emphasis on extrusion of beryllium. Material on the extrusion process has been included when it contains information that might be of possible help in die designing."

Report presenting aerodynamic-heating data for a range of Mach numbers from free-flight testing on a sealed trailing-edge flap on a clipped 60 degree delta fin. Measurements were taken on both sides and on the upper and lower surfaces of the fin just before the hinge line. Heat-transfer coefficients on the windward side were found to be about 2.5 times the average of the measurements on the leeward side.

Boundary-layer-transition and heat-transfer measurements were obtained from flight tests of blunt and sharp cones having apex angles of 50 deg. The test Mach number range was from 1.7 to 4.7, corresponding to free-stream Reynolds numbers, based on cone base diameter, of 18. 3 x 10(exp 6) and 32.1 x 10(exp 6), respectively. Transition on both models occurred at a local Reynolds number of 1 x 10(exp 6) to 2 X 10(exp 6) based on distance from the stagnation point. Transition Reynolds numbers based on momentum thickness were between 320 and 380 for the blunt cone. The model surface roughness was 25 rms microinches or greater. Turbulent heat transfer to the conical surface of the blunt cone at a Mach number of 4 was 30 percent less than that to the surface of the sharp cone. Available theories predicted heat-transfer coefficients reasonably well for the fully laminar or turbulent flow conditions.