Failures in the basic materials used in nuclear power plants continue to be costly and insidious, despite increasing industry vigilance to catch failures before they degrade safety. For instance, the overall costs to the US industry from materials problems could amount to as much as $10 billion annually. Moreover, estimates indicate that the cost of a pipe failure in a nuclear plant is one hundred times greater than the cost of a similar failure in a coal-fired plant. There are important practical stimuli and much scope for further understanding of the effects of irradiation on Zr-alloys (and other materials used in nuclear installations) by careful experimentation. Moreover, these studies need to address the effect of irradiation on all components of heterogeneous systems: the metal, the oxide and the environment, and especially those processes recurring at the interphases between these components. The present paper is aimed at providing specialists with some systematic information on the subject and with important considerations on the key items for further experimentation.

1,1'-Diruthenocenylnaphthalene has been prepared and its molecular structure has been determined by x-ray diffraction, in order to compare its structure with that of its iron analog. The molecular structure of the half oxidized form of 1,1'-diferocenylnaphthalene has also be determined. Comparison of these structures has made it possible to assign the origins of observed deformations in these substances. Polymeric, face-to-face metallocenes related to the 1,8-dimetallocenylnaphthalenes (M=Fe, Ru) have also been prepared by coupling of 1,1'-bis(chlorozinc)metallocenes with 1,8- diiodonaphthalene. A more general approach to the synthesis of polymeric face-to-face metallocenes incorporating other transition metals has been developed. This involves the sequential replacement of iodo groups in 1,8-diiodonaphthalene with cyclopentadiene and the complexation of these rings with metals. A short synthesis of 4-n-butyl-1,8-diiodonaphthalene has been achieved. The molecular structure of a 2,3-oligomeric face-to-face ferrocene has been determined and shown to have the unexpected cis arrangement of naphthalene rings. 6 refs.

The effect of processing on the fatigue crack propagation and fracture toughness of ceramic-polymer composites was investigated. A new process for composite production was developed with homogeneous particle distribution and low residual stress levels in mind. PMMA was uniformly distributed by encapsulating the SiC substrate by means of precipitation polymerization. The encapsulation processed powders were then compacted at temperatures above T{sub g} to form the composite. The encapsulation process was optimized by varying the initial concentrations of the reactants until homogeneous nucleation was suppressed. The coatings were found to be continuous at the SiC-PMMA interface, with particle agglomeration occurring between coated particles. Polymer loadings equivalent to 30 vol % SiC were achieved. Composites of several particle size ranges were tested under cyclic fatigue and static loading conditions. Fatigue growth rates and fracture toughness data display a trend of increasing crack growth resistance with increasing particle size, with encapsulation processed composites outperforming conventionally cast composites in both cyclic fatigue and fracture resistance. The largest K{sub Ic} value was found to be 2.95 MPa(m){sup 1/2}, a factor of 3 increase over un-reinforced PMMA. The roles of crack deflection, shielding, bridging, and pinning in enhancing toughness were discussed in light of crack profile …

My research in lattice gauge theory during the past year is described. Several projects were completed dealing with QCD simulations including dynamical fermions. Under the DOE Grand Challenge program, a large scale calculation of the QCD spectrum with two light flavors of dynamical staggered quarks was carried out. This calculation is one of the most significant efforts to data to take into account the effects of dynamical fermions. Smaller lattice spacing and lighter quark masses were used than in previous attempts. QCD thermodynamics was studied on the ST-100 array processor and on an ETA supercomputer at the John von Neumann Supercomputer Center. On the ST-100, a study with two flavors of dynamical staggered quarks with am{sub q} = 0.025 and 0.0125 was carried out on a 12{sup 3} {times} 8 lattice. These results give a rough estimate of the crossover couplings where we see the restoration of chiral symmetry. A study of QCD with dynamical Wilson fermions was carried out with N{sub t} = 4 to try to bring the study of QCD with dynamical Wilson fermions to the level that has been attained with staggered fermions over the past two years. We have calculated screening lengths to elucidate the …

The purpose of the following chemical simulant studies is to assess the potential acute environmental effects and persistence of diethyl malonate (DEM). Deposition velocities for DEM to soil surfaces ranged from 0.04 to 0.2 cm/sec. For foliar surfaces, deposition velocities ranged from 0.0002 cm/sec at low air concentrations to 0.05 cm/sec for high dose levels. The residence times or half-lives of DEM deposited to soils was 2 h for the fast component and 5 to 16 h for the residual material. DEM deposited to foliar surfaces also exhibited biphasic depuration. The half-life of the short residence time component ranged from 1 to 3 h, while the longer time component had half-times of 16 to 242 h. Volatilization and other depuration mechanisms reduce surface contaminant levels in both soils and foliage to less than 1% of initial dose within 96 h. DEM is not phytotoxic at foliar mass loading levels of less than 10 {mu}m/cm{sup 2}. However, severe damage is evident at mass loading levels in excess of 17 {mu}g/cm{sup 2}. Tall fescue and sagebrush were more affected than was short-needle pine, however, mass loading levels were markedly different. Regrowth of tall fescue indicated that the effects of DEM are residual, …

This chapter evaluates the sorption behavior of metallic ions on specimen calcite as a basis for determining the importance of calcite relative to other subsurface sorbents, such as layer silicates and oxides, in controlling metal ion concentration in calcareous groundwaters. A review of the literature shows the sorption of both metallic cations and anions on calcite over ranges in pH and CO{sub 2} partial pressure to be consistent with a surface-exchange process where cations exchange with surface Ca and anions exchange with surface CO{sub 3}. A general surface-exchange model was developed to account for the effects of Ca and CO{sub 3} concentrations, pH, and calcite surface area on cation and anion sorption onto calcite. The model was applied to recently developed experimental sorption data of Zn and SeO{sub 3} on specimen calcite in equilibrium CaCO{sub 3}(aq) suspensions. The surface-exchange model was able to describe the effects of pH on both cation and anion sorption, and provided good predictions of the effects of variable CO{sub 2}(g) pressure on Zn sorption and of PO{sub 4} on SeO{sub 3} sorption. The surface-exchange model, combined with sorption constants for other phases, was used to calculate Cd sorption to a hypothetical aquifer material containing a …

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A new method, the Conjugate Gradient Squared (CGS) solution technique, is shown to be extremely effective when applied to the finite-difference solution of conductive and convective heat transfer in geologic systems. The CGS method is compared to the Successive Over/Under Relaxation schemes, a version of the Gaussian elimination method, and the Generalized Minimum Residual (GMRES) approach. The CGS procedure converges at least ten times faster than the nearest competitor. The model is applied to the Thermopolis hydrothermal system, located in northwestern Wyoming. Modeled results are compared with measured temperature-depth profiles and results from other studies. The temperature decrease from 72{degree}C to 54{degrees}C along the crest of the Thermopolis anticline is shown to result from cooling of the geothermal fluid as it moves to the southeast. Modeled results show correct general trends, however, a time-varying three-dimensional model will be needed to fully explain the effects of mixing within the aquifers along the crest of the anticline and thermal affects of surface surface topography. 29 refs., 18 figs., 2 tabs.

For the Compton Polarimeter experiment at the Stanford Linear Accelerator the crossing point of a laser beam and an electron beam must be kept accurate and stable. An electronic system is described for the automatic tracking and correcting of the beam crossing. A remote CCD camera, relatively insensitive to electromagnetic disturbance, records small displacements of the pulsed laser beam. Video signals are analyzed at a remote station, the amount of drift from a selected reference point determined and the appropriate correction commands sent to the motorized mirror deflecting the laser beam. A description of the system, its performance and the test results are presented. 2 refs., 4 figs.

The concept of a Super Fixed Target Beauty Facility (SFT) which uses a relatively low intensity 20 TeV proton beam as a generator of very high momenta B's is an exciting prospect which is very competitive with other B factory ideas. The yields of B's in such a facility are quite high (3 {times} 10{sup 10} {yields} 10{sup 11} B's per year). At this level of statistics, CP violation measurements will be possible in many modes. In addition, the fixed target configuration, because of the high momenta of the produced B's and the resulting long decay lengths, facilitates the detection and reconstruction of B's and offers unique opportunities for observation of the B decays. The limited solid angle coverage required for the fixed target spectrometer makes the cost of the facility much cheaper than other e{sup +}e{sup {minus}} or hadron collider options under consideration. The relatively low intensity 20 TeV beam (1 {yields} 2 {times} 10{sup 8} protons/second) needed for the SFT makes it possible to consider an extraction system which operates concurrently and in a non-interfering manner with the other collider experiments. One possible method for generating such a beam, crystal channeling, is discussed.

This reports presents the operating results for Run 252 at the Advanced Coal Liquefaction R D Facility in Wilsonville, Alabama. This run operated in the Close-Coupled Integrated Two-Stage Liquefaction mode (CC-ITSL) using Illinois No. 6 bituminous coal. The primary run objective was demonstration of unit and system operability in the CC-ITSL mode with catalytic-catalytic reactors and with ash recycle. Run 252 began on 26 November 1986 and continued through 3 February 1987. During this period 214.4 MF tons of Illinois No. 6 coal were fed in 1250 hours of operation. 3 refs., 29 figs., 18 tabs.

Superdeformation was first observed in the mass-190 region in {sup 191}Hg. Since then, SD bands have been found in {sup 190-194}Hg nuclei. Here we report the discovery of two such bands in {sup 194}Tl which are the first SD bands fond in this mass region that are not in Hg nuclei. Subsequently, bands have been found in two Pb nuclei. 5 refs., 1 fig.

The inclusive jet cross section and the dijet mass spectrum have been measured at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider at {radical}s = 1.8 TeV. These measurements span approximately 7 orders of magnitude in cross section and contain jets up to 400 GeV in transverse energy and dijet masses up to 950 GeV. Comparisons have been made to QCD at both orders {alpha}{sub s}{sup 2} and {alpha}{sub s}{sup 3}. 8 refs., 9 figs.

A certification plan for computer codes used in Safety Analyses and Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) for the operation of the Savannah River Site (SRS) reactors has been prepared. An action matrix, checklists, and a time schedule have been included in the plan. These items identify what is required to achieve certification of the codes. A list of Safety Analysis and Probabilistic Risk Assessment (SA PRA) computer codes covered by the certification plan has been assembled. A description of each of the codes was provided in Reference 4. The action matrix for the configuration control plan identifies code specific requirements that need to be met to achieve the certification plan's objectives. The checklist covers the specific procedures that are required to support the configuration control effort and supplement the software life cycle procedures based on QAP 20-1 (Reference 7). A qualification checklist for users establishes the minimum prerequisites and training for achieving levels of proficiency in using configuration controlled codes for critical parameter calculations.

The whole-pin furnace system is a new in-cell experimental facility constructed to investigate how irradiated fuel pins may fail under potential reactor accident conditions. Extensive checkouts have demonstrated excellent performance in remote operation, temperature control, pin breach detection, and fission gas handling. The system is currently being used in testing of EBIR-II-irradiated Integral Fast Reactor (IFR) metal fuel pins; future testing will include EBR-II-irradiated mixed-oxide fuel pins. 7 refs., 4 figs.

Electron Cyclotron Current Drive (ECCD) experiments on the DIII-D tokamak have been performed using 60 GHz waves launched from the high field side of the torus. Preliminary analysis indicates rf driven currents between 50 and 100 kA in discharges with total plasma currents between 200 and 500 kA. These are the first ECCD experiments with strong first pass absorption, localized deposition of the rf power, and {tau}{sub E} much longer than the slowing-down time of the rf generated current carriers. The experimentally measured profiles for T{sub e}, {eta}{sub e} and Z{sub eff} are used as input for a 1D transport code and a multiply-ray, 3D ray tracing code. Comparisons with theory and assessment of the influence of the residual electric field, using a Fokker-Planck code, are in progress. The ECH power levels were between 1 and 1.5 MW with pulse lengths of about 500 msec. ECCD experiments worldwide are motivated by issues relating to the physics and technical advantages of the use of high frequency rf waves to drive localized currents. ECCD is accomplished by preferentially heating electrons moving in one toroidal direction, reducing their collisionality and thereby producing a non-inductively driven toroidal current. 6 refs., 4 figs.

Searches for the top quark in p{bar p} collisions at {radical}s = 1.8 TeV are described. The analyses are based on data with an integrated luminosity of 4.4 pb{sup {minus}1} recorded with the Collider Detector at Fermilab in the 1988--1989 run. An upper limit on the t{bar t} cross section is obtained. The top quark with mass below 89 GeV/c{sup 2} is excluded at the 95% CL. Prospects for searches for the top quark in the future are presented. We also briefly present results on searches for supersymmetric particles. 14 refs., 10 figs.

In FY 1988, evapotranspiration studies in support of the Protective Barrier Development Program focused on developing instruments to measure evapotranspiration and on conducting natural analog studies. This report describes a has exchange chamber being developed that will control internal temperature and relative humidity to simulate outdoor conditions. This device will measure evapotranspiration rates unambiguously from any surface and measure carbon dioxide exchange rates, which will provide information on plant growth processes. The report also describes ecophysiological experiments that were conducted to determine water and carbon dynamics of shrubs. 5 refs., 24 figs.

We report on the successful effort to develop hybrid PIN diode arrays and to demonstrate their potential as components of vertex detectors. Hybrid pixel arrays have been fabricated by the Hughes Aircraft Co. by bump-bonding readout chips developed by Hughes to an array of PIN diodes manufactured by Micron Semiconductor Inc. These hybrid pixel arrays were constructed in two configurations. One array format has 10 {times} 64 pixels, each 120 {mu}m square; and the other format has 256 {times} 156 pixels, each 30 {mu}m square. In both cases, the thickness of the PIN diode layer is 300 {mu}m. Measurements of detector performance show that excellent position resolution can be achieved by interpolation. By determining the centroid of the charge cloud which spreads charge into a number of neighboring pixels, a spatial resolution of a few microns has been attained. The noise has been measured to be about 300 electrons (rms) at room temperature, as expected from KTC and dark current considerations, yielding a signal-to-noise ratio of about 100 for minimum ionizing particles. 4 refs., 17 figs.

This report summarizes the development and evaluation of programmatic performance indicators of maintenance. These indicators were selected by: (1) creating a formal framework of plant processes; (2) identifying features of plant behavior considered important to safety; (3) evaluating existing indicators against these features; and (4) performing statistical analyses for the selected indicators. The report recommends additional testing. This document provides the appendices to the report. These appendices are: synopsis of process model; detailed results of statistical analysis; and signal processing analysis of daily power loss indicator.

We expand upon our previous Monte-Carlo-type study of 3-family mass matrices which lead to the experimentally-determined KM matrix and satisfy the constraints imposed by B{sub d}--{bar B}{sub d} mixing, {vert bar}V{sub ub}/V{sub cb}{vert bar}, B{sub K} and CP violation. Scatter distributions in {vert bar}V{sub ub}V{sub cb}{vert bar}, {epsilon}{prime}/{epsilon} and x{sub s} vs m{sub t} are presented for the standard minimal Higgs structure as well as top quark mass histograms for the minimal and 2-doublet Higgs models. A top quark mass in the range of 100--200 GeV is strongly favored with all the constraints imposed, but if the lower bound on the CP-violating J-value is completely relaxed, a secondary probability peaking occurs in the mass histograms which lies above 220 GeV in the minimal Higgs model. 19 refs., 5 figs.

The BNL Booster, now nearing completion, was designed to inject protons and heavy ions into the Alternating Gradient Synchrotron (AGS) for further acceleration. In the future, ion beams from the AGS will in turn be further accelerated in the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). Given the wide range of ion masses, energies and beam intensities the Booster will generate, other important applications should be considered. Dedicated use of the Booster for such applications may be possible during limited periods. However shared use would be preferable from the points of view of availability, affordability and efficiency. While heavy ions of a given isotope are injected into the AGS, the same or other ion species from the Booster could be simultaneously delivered to a new irradiation area for treatment of patients, testing of electronic devices or other applications and research. To generate two different beam species, ion sources on both Tandem accelerators would be used; one for AGS injection and the other one for a time-sharing application. Since the beam transport from the Tandems to the Booster can not be rapidly adjusted, it will be necessary to select beams of identical magnetic rigidity. The present study was performed to determine to what …

This report presents estimates of the lifetime carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired, photovoltaic, and solar thermal electric power plants in the United States. These CO{sub 2} estimates are based on a net energy analysis derived from both operational systems and detailed design studies. It appears that energy conservation measures and shifting from fossil to renewable energy sources have significant long-term potential to reduce carbon dioxide production caused by energy generation and thus mitigate global warming. The implications of these results for a national energy policy are discussed. 40 refs., 8 figs., 23 tabs.

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has placed strong emphasis on a new way of doing business patterned on the lessons learned in the nuclear power industry after the accident at Three Mile Island Unit 2. The new way relies on strict adherence to policies and procedures, a greatly expanded training program, and much more rigor and formality in operations. Another key element is more visible oversight by upper management and auditability by DOE. Although the Chemical Technology Division (Chem Tech) has functioned in a safe manner since its beginning, the policies and methods of the past are no longer appropriate. Therefore, in accordance with these directives, Chem Tech is improving its operational performance by making a transition to greater formality in the observance of policies and procedures and a more deliberate consideration of the interrelationships between organizations at ORNL. This transition to formality is vitally important because both our staff and our facilities are changing with time. For example, some of the inventors and developers of the processes and facilities in use are now passing the torch'' to the next generation of Chem Tech staff. Our facilities have also served us well for many years, but the newest of …