This report discusses progress made by the Physical Chemistry Group and Pile Engineering Groups. Topics covered are as follows: x-ray studies--tube bore mining; physical expansion of capsule exposures; special capsule exposures; pile annealing; thermal conductivity and pile annealing; total stored energy; Sykes stored energy method; slug corrosion rate; effect of pressure drop on slug corrosion; exposure of P-10 fuel slugs; slug corrosion weight loss variables; vertical safety rod thimble corrosion; front tube corrosion; magnesium corrosion program; thimble corrosion program; horizontal thimble removal; metal exposure production tests; special pile measurements; carbon dioxide; H pile power level increase; vertical thimble temperature; graphite core samples; nine tube mock-up; and required header pressure.

This monthly report details the 100 Area technical activities of the Physics Group for the month of May 1950.

Abstract: An investigation was conducted to determine the absorption and translocation of fission products by Russian thistle from a localized spot of contaminated soil. The amount and identity of the radioactive elements absorbed and translocated by the Russian thistle is given along with the location of these elements in the plants. Beta radioactivity to the amounts of 10 microcuries per gram caused no visible effects on the growth habits of sectioned material are included.

From Summary: "Curves are presented that show the theoretical performance of the augmentation method for various amounts of water injected and the effects of varying flight Mach number, altitude, ambient-air temperature, ambient relative humidity, compressor pressure ratio, and inlet-diffuser efficiency. Numerical examples, illustrating the use of the psychrometric chart and the Mollier diagram in calculating both compressor-inlet and compressor-outlet conditions when water is injected at the compressor inlet, are presented."

Report presenting a theoretical treatment of absorption problems that considers the following cases: radiation is normal to an absorber with plane parallel surfaces, radiations are of several polyenergetic types, induced radioactive isotopes decay to stable atoms in multistep decay processes, and radiations from the absorber affect the time-dependency of the source activity. Radiation from intermediate isotopes can become more dangerous than the original activity, so the entire range of radiations must be accounted for.

From introduction: "This report presents the apparent viscosities of supernate-sludge slurries prepared synthetically to simulate the conditions known to exist in the waste storage tanks, but with fission products and plutonium absent."

A quarterly summary of reports that have been published on research being conducted at the University of California Radiation Laboratory

Information is presented in threc main sections: nuclear and radiochemistry. physical and organic chemistry, and process chemistry. Included is an investigation of naturally occurring Pu for isotopes other than Pu/sup 239/ , an examination of Mallinckrodt wastes for Ac/sup 227/ the half life of Pa/sup 240/ the cross section of Np /sup 237/ and a study of Np isomers, studies of various Tc and Re compounds, coincidence of interference in a pulse analyzer, absorption of neutrons in a sphere. separation of tritium and hydrogen, spectrophotometric studies of Pa, studies of salt-mixed solvent systems. spectra of ferric complexes, separation of Pu and Np. oxidation of Np(IV by Fe(III). magnetic susceptibilities of actinic compounds, Np(V) compounds. thermal decomposition of UO/sub 3/, physical properties of metal chloridephosphorus oxychloride systems, a continuous chromatographic adsorption method, fluoride volatility separations, fluorination of Th, Zr. Al. and Zr- U alloys, electrolysis of BrF/sub 3/ solutions, decontamination studies including U- Te separations, Pa volatility experiments, extraction of ionium from Mallinckrodt raffinate, and isolation of Pa from the ionium waste stream. (J.R.D.)

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As titanium, zirconium, and other of the high melting electropositive metals become more important, the problem of using suitable refractory materials for their casting becomes more important. This paper discusses the method of choosing and testing possible container materials. To make the discussion more specific, titanium is used as an example. As titanium melt at 2000 {+-} 10 K, it is immediately clear that one is restricted to refractory materials melting considerably above 2000 K. This greatly limits the possible materials that might be considered. The possibility of using any pure high melting element can be quickly eliminated as titanium reacts quite vigorously with non-metals such as carbon and due to its high boiling point and therefore high internal pressure, one can predict that it dissolves even the most refractory metals. Examination of phase diagrams confirms that even metals such as tantalum, tungsten, and rhenium would not be able to resist attack by titanium. One is thus limited to high melting compounds such as the oxides, sulfides, nitrides, carbides, silicides, and borides. The first consideration is that, if possible, one would use a compound which is thermodynamically stable in the presence of titanium metal at 2000 K. Titanium should not …

From statement of objectives: The purposes of the work described in this report are to provide data useful for designing and operating the dissolver solution clarification equipment to be installed in the Redox production plant.

Report presenting a critical comparison between experimental and theoretical results for the aerodynamic characteristics of wings at supersonic flight speeds. The lift, pitching moment, and drag characteristics of several families of wings of varying plan form and section in the wind tunnel and compared with values predicted by the three-dimensional linear theory.

Reports the results of a soil conservation survey and makes the case for increased conservation efforts. Provides information on identifying land types and suggests simple methods of soil conservation.

Introduction:"A corrosion test program in support of the Redox Project was carried out during the second quarter of 1950 to determine the corrosion rates of several austenitic stainless steels in simulated 202-B Waste Storage solution containing HF, HN03, and H2SO4 acids. The results of this program are contained herein and all original data are recorded in laboratory notebook HW-3282-T."

Note presenting a practical method, employing a lofting technique, for determining the profile coordinates of an air inlet for the leading edge of an airfoil from formulas which are dependent only on the airfoil coordinates and on the height of the opening. It was found that the base-profile concept of thin-airfoil theory could be applied to a ducted airfoil with satisfactory results. Results regarding design inlets, modified inlets, and end-closure shape are provided.

The following report examines a rapid method used to eliminate the possibility of explosive perchlorate-organic mixtures in a control laboratory in order to determine radiocesium. These methods include the usage of chloroplatinic acid as a precipitate of radocesium.

Report presenting wind-tunnel testing to determine the temperature-recovery factors for laminar, transitional, and turbulent boundary layers on a flat plate.

A coincidence circuit using the traveling wave principle as applied to distributed amplification is described. The resolving time is about 10{sup -8} sec. when the device is used in connection with scintillation detectors.

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Three constants can be used to calculate the distribution coefficient of uranium (VI) with an accuracy of 15% in pentaether-nitric acid mixtures containing up to 1.42M total nitric acid and 0.6M TTA and in cyclohexanone-nitric acid mixtures containing up to 1.0M total nitric acid and 0.5M TTA.

Report presenting the vibration characteristics of several symmetrical ball-root-type blades simulating the mass and natural frequency of axial-flow-compressor blades under various mounting conditions by subjecting them to controlled periodic excitation and centrifugal loading. Results regarding loose single ball-root mounting, loose-lubricated, single ball-root mounting, double ball-root mounting, and damping measurements are provided.

Report presenting testing of two NACA two-blade propellers at a range of blade angles and Mach numbers. The effect of compressibility and design section camber are presented for each propeller. The results indicated that if the outboard sections of a propeller are the thinnest, the design of the propellers should incorporate loading distribution that is concentrated in the tip sections.

Report presenting an experimental and analytical investigation to determine the effect of humidity on turbojet-engine performance. The humidity effect was found to be very small with the magnitude depending on the basis of comparison. Results regarding the calculated humidity correction factors, experimental effect of humidity of engine performance, and variation of saturation specific humidity with altitude are provided.

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