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By Walter Craft, John L. Lamont

Adequate hardenability has long been recognized as one of the first requirements for producing desired mechanical properties in a heat-treated steel. Since the introduction of the Jominy end-quench test' and the development of correlative information to expand its use, industry has had an effective measure of hardenability. Prediction and control of the hardenability have been made possible by Grossmann's principle2 for calculating hardenability from chemical composition; and Field's conversiona from depth of half-martensite hardening to Rockwell C hardness has made the relation more quantitative. These developments have facilitated the design of new steels and the control of standard grades to the extent that it has been possible to establish tentative hardenability bands for some of the more commonly used alloy steels.4 As the depth of hardening of the Jominy test specimen is usually measured by Rockwell C hardness, it was considered that it should be possible to predict the hardness by a more direct calculation. It has been found that this can be accomplished by the addition of Rockwell C units proportional to the carbon and alloy content, grain size, and position in the Jominy test specimen. The calculation has been found to be fairly accurate, and because of its additive character is relatively simple to use. In principle the method of calculation is somewhat similar to the expressions developed by Herty, McBride, and Hollen-back,5 Burns, Moore, and Archer,= and Burns and Riege1.l The calculation is started from a base that includes the effects of carbon content and position in the Jominy test speimen. Rockwell C units are added to the base in proportion to the alloy content and grain size. This sum represents the Rockwell C hardness up to the level at which a disproportionate increase of hardness is caused by the formation of martensite, and above this level an increment for martensite hardening is added. The effects of alloys are directly proportional to the amounts present and are independent of each other, the carbon content, and the position in the specimen. Furthermore, the factors for determining the martensite increment are dependcnt only on carbon content and are independent of cooling rate and alloy content. It is this absence of interrelation between the different factors that makes it possible to calculate the hardness and makes the method of calculation consistent with the principle that the character of the hardening reaction is governed primarily by carbon and that alloys exert their effect chiefly through control of the critical cooling rate. The principle of the calculation, and the effects of alloys on the critical cooling rate,

Jan 1, 1947

By R. Al-Hussainy, H. J. Ramey

Previous gas well test analyses have been based mainly upon linearizations of ideal gas flow results, although a method for drawdown analysis based upon real gas flow results has been proposed. Linearizations based upon ideal gas flow require estimation of gas physical properties at Tome sort of average pressure, and implicitly involve the assumption that pressure gradients are small everywhere in the reservoir. A new real gas flow equation has been developed by means of a substitution which couples presTure, viscosity and gas law deviation factor. This sub-stitution has been called the real gas pseudo-pressure. Use of the real gas pseudo-pressure leads to simple equations describing real gas flow which do not contain pressure-dependent gas properties, and which do not require the assumption of small pressure gradients everywhere in the flow system. Equations required to determine flow capacity, well condition and static formation pressure from pressure drawdown and build-up tests with the real gas pseudo-pressure concept are presented. Also shown are applications of the real gas pseudo-pressure to back-pressure testing, the gas materials balance and rigorous determination of average gas properties for previous gas flow equations. Included are sample calculations for well test analyses. INTRODUCTION A recent study' of the flow of the transient flow of real gases in ideal radial systems showed that it is possible to consider gas physical property dependence upon pressure by means of a substitution called the real gas pseudo-pressure. The substitution has the advantage that it enables engineering solutions for steady and transient flow of real gases that are more accurate and general than those previously available. The solutions are particularly important for the case of gas flow in tight, high-pressure formations under large drawdowns. Even for more ideal flow conditions, the real gas pseudo-pressure concept leads to important rules for finding average gas physical properties pertinent for older well test analyses. Ref. I provides a detailed study of the theory behind the real gas flow correlations to be used in this paper. The purpose of this paper is to provide necessary engineering forms for use of the real gas flow results, and to illustrate applications. The following considers flow of real gases in an ideal radial flow system. It is assumed that: (1) formation thickness, porosity, water saturation, absolute permeability, temperature and gas composition are constant; (2) gas compressibility and density are functions of pressure as described by the gas law pv = znRT; (3) gas viscosrty is a function of pressure; (4) effective permeability to gas may be a function of pressure to account for liquid condensation; (5) condensate is immobile; and (6) the formation has no dip.

Jan 1, 1967

By John L. Lamont, Walter Craft

Adequate hardenability has long been recognized as one of the first requirements for producing desired mechanical properties in a heat-treated steel. Since the introduction of the Jominy end-quench test' and the development of correlative information to expand its use, industry has had an effective measure of hardenability. Prediction and control of the hardenability have been made possible by Grossmann's principle2 for calculating hardenability from chemical composition; and Field's conversiona from depth of half-martensite hardening to Rockwell C hardness has made the relation more quantitative. These developments have facilitated the design of new steels and the control of standard grades to the extent that it has been possible to establish tentative hardenability bands for some of the more commonly used alloy steels.4 As the depth of hardening of the Jominy test specimen is usually measured by Rockwell C hardness, it was considered that it should be possible to predict the hardness by a more direct calculation. It has been found that this can be accomplished by the addition of Rockwell C units proportional to the carbon and alloy content, grain size, and position in the Jominy test specimen. The calculation has been found to be fairly accurate, and because of its additive character is relatively simple to use. In principle the method of calculation is somewhat similar to the expressions developed by Herty, McBride, and Hollen-back,5 Burns, Moore, and Archer,= and Burns and Riege1.l The calculation is started from a base that includes the effects of carbon content and position in the Jominy test speimen. Rockwell C units are added to the base in proportion to the alloy content and grain size. This sum represents the Rockwell C hardness up to the level at which a disproportionate increase of hardness is caused by the formation of martensite, and above this level an increment for martensite hardening is added. The effects of alloys are directly proportional to the amounts present and are independent of each other, the carbon content, and the position in the specimen. Furthermore, the factors for determining the martensite increment are dependcnt only on carbon content and are independent of cooling rate and alloy content. It is this absence of interrelation between the different factors that makes it possible to calculate the hardness and makes the method of calculation consistent with the principle that the character of the hardening reaction is governed primarily by carbon and that alloys exert their effect chiefly through control of the critical cooling rate. The principle of the calculation, and the effects of alloys on the critical cooling rate,

Jan 1, 1947

By G. R. Fitterer

NonmEtallic inclusions in steel have received much attention by metallurgists during the past few years. Many investigators have been emphatic in stating their belief that these impurities are the chief causes of steel failures, while others think that their effects are negligible. One of the main reasons that definite information on the effects of these impurities is lacking is that no reliable method has been developed for the exact determination of the amounts of these different impurities in steel. Some valuable new information has been brought out by a reliable method for nonmetallic inclusions which has been developed at the Pittsburgh Experiment Station of the U. S. Bureau of Mines, in cooperation with the Carnegie Institute of Technology and the Metallurgical Advisory Board. This procedure satisfactorily extracts some of the more common inclusions from steels, thus enabling the investigator to correlate steel failures with inclusion content. Although the data given herein are the first to be published on the subject of the electrolytic extraction method, the interest in the subject is evidenced by the fact that it is already being used by some 20 to 30 steel companies for their various purposes. Some of the comments received from these laboratories indicate that the method is highly satisfactory: the unfavorable comments, when traced to their sources, have been found to be based on some small mistake made in either installation or operation. The chief discrepancy seems to have occurred in attempts to apply the method to the extraction of inclusions from alloy steels. The procedure can be used only for the plain carbon steels and for such low alloy steels as those containing the usual amount of copper (0.2 to 0.3 per cent). Steels containing the carbide-forming alloys such as chromium, tungsten, etc., present far too many difficulties for the accurate determination of inclusions. Luckily, the iron and manganese carbides do not offer any difficulties and no contamination of the oxide-sulfide residue results, It is highly probable that some modification of the following

Jan 1, 1931

By Louis Huntoon

THE USE of the aeroplane in engineering work is quite recent. Its general application to all branches of engineering, including mining and metallurgical engineering, is increasing and its possible uses are most promising. Comparatively little has been published on the sub-ject in the mining and metallurgical press, and it is for this reason that the following notes are recorded. In March, 1922, Prof. E. L. Bruce published an article in the Transactions of the Canadian Mining Institute showing the possible applications of the aeroplane to preliminary geological surveys. In October, 1922, Mr. DeShea, representative of the Fairchild Aerial Survey Co., of New York, discussed the subject before the New York Section of the Mining and Metallurgical Society. The writer has been in correspondence with the Laurentide Air Service of Montreal and engineers who have flown. Canada, with its many lakes and rivers-favorable landing places, meets the prerequisite for successful use of the aeroplane in an unexplored and uninhabited or sparsely inhabited country. During the open season hydroplanes are used, and during the, winter season ski runners are attached to the axle in lieu of wheels. With skiis attached it has been found practicable to take off and land on any depth of snow quite readily. Winter flying in northern Canada is quite common. The Laurentide Lumber Co., appreciating the value of the aeroplane, used them for two or three years for timber cruising, and about 1921 turned their equip-ment over to the Laurentide Air Service of Montreal, who operate flying machines. The photographic and engineering work in Canada is done by the Fair-child Aerial Surveys Co. under a contract with the Laurentide Company.

Jan 12, 1923

By Alexander L. Field

The Bureau of Mines is investigating the problem of slag viscosity, its variation with the temperature and with the composition of the slag, and its effect upon the distribution of the sulphur between molten iron and slag, as introductory to a series of contributions to the theory of the metallurgical processes. The method of measurement, viscosity apparatus, furnace and other accessories mentioned in this paper have been described fully in s Bureau of Mines report.1 The Literature on Slag Viscosity The viscosity of blast-furnace slag had not been measured previous to the investigation described in this report. A number of investigators have determined the "fusibility," or softening temperature, of slags by means of the cone method .or other deformation method, but these methods supply only limited information regarding the temperature-viscosity relations of the slag in question. Any deformation method that may be employed indicates only the temperature at which the slag attains a more or less definite viscosity., the magnitude of the value obtained depending on the method used. For details of the various methods used by different investigators, see the Bureau of Mines paper already referred to. An isolated measurement by Doelter on a single mixture at 1,300" C. represents the highest temperature reached in the various viscosity investigations previous to those described in this report, in which results have been referred to absolute units. Arbitrary deformation tests have of course been made at much higher temperatures.

Jan 1, 1917

By Allen L. Hatch

A survey of all phases of the world's lead and zinc production in 1968 from ore through to refined metal was conducted by sending questionnaires to individual companies and the results of this survey are tabulated at the end of the paper. The paper goes on to review changes in the geographical distribution of the world's lead and zinc mine and metal production and in the trading patterns of raw materials, present and future utilization of metal production capacity, developments in metal smelting and refining processes and the growing importance of marketing, product development and research in the 1950's and 1960's.

Jan 1, 1970

By R. S. Dean

BLUE HEAT PHENOMENA IN constructing a theory of the flow and hardening of metals, we necessarily make use of such phenomena as seem to be, universally observed in metals. It is, therefore, a matter of. concern to the constructors of such mnemonic systems if one or two of the group classified as metals show anomalous behavior. Such egregious phenomena are observed in pure or nearly-pure iron in the reaction of its mechanical properties to low-temperature annealing after cold work and to increased temperature of testing. In short it has been generally observed that iron," as an outstanding exception among metals, increases its hardness and strength by low-temperature annealing. after cold work,1 and also by increase of testing temperature to the range of 150° to 300° C. The investigation here recorded was made then with the object of ascertaining if similar phenomena were observed in high purity iron and, if not, to the presence of which impurities these phenomena could be traced.

Jan 1, 1929

By S. F. Emmons

The first paper which appears in the published Transactions of our Institute is that read by our respected Secretary at its first meeting in Wilkes-Barre in May, 1871. It is entitled " The Geographical Distribution of Mining Districts in the United States," and presents a brief but masterly review of what was known of the distribution of our deposits of useful minerals, particularly the metals, not only from a geographical but from a geological stand-point. At the request of Dr. Raymond I agreed, somewhat hastily, perhaps, to write for this occasion a brief sketch of the geological distribution of the deposits of the useful metals in this country, in the light of the increased knowledge of the present day. In the time given no personal investigation was possible, and as it was therefore out of the question to attempt to make anything that could be considered an original contribution to the history of our ore-deposits, I have been obliged to limit myself to an examination of such pub-

Jan 1, 1894

By Charles R. Fettke

In the present day manufacture of glass nearly pure quartz sands are used almost exclusively as the source of the silica, which is the major constituent of all common varieties of glass. Ordinary soda-lime, such as bottle, common tableware, plate, and window glasses, contains from 65 to 75 per cent. of silica. Occurrence Glass sands occur in nature either in the form of loose, unconsolidated sediments or in deposits in which the individual grains have been more or less thoroughly bound together by some cementing agent so as to form sandstones. While deposits of sand and sandstones occur both widely and abundantly distributed, deposits that are sufficiently free from other constituents than quartz grains, so that they can be employed in the manufacture of the better grades of glass, are, comparatively speaking, of rare occurrence. The major portion of the glass sand produced in the United States comes from sandstones. In order to be suitable for glass sand, they should be rather friable. The rock should break down readily along the cementing material between the grains and should not break across the grains rather than along the bond. Some of the sandstones used are so friable that only light shots of slow-burning dynamite are necessary to disintegrate them sufficiently for hydraulic mining, while others have to be passed through crushers in order to disintegrate the rock into its individual grains. MINERALOGICAL COMPOSITION An ideal glass sand is made up entirely of grains of the mineral quartz free from inclusions of foreign substances. Sands containing 100 per cent. silica, however, are not found in nature, although some very nearly approach this composition.

Jan 1, 1926

By William Crane

OPERATORS of diamond drills have long been familiar with thread-like markings or riflings on cores but apparently have given but little serious thought to the conditions that are responsible for their production. The opinion generally held by those who have observed the phenomena is that the riflings are produced directly or indirectly by vibration, but so far as the writer is aware no systematic attempt has been made to demonstrate the fact. A careful search through the literature on diamond-drilling practice has been rewarded by only one reference to such markings of cores. J. N. Justice1 writes, "Of the peculiarities met with in the core, I will mention only one. The core from the "H" drill, at about 360 ft. came out rifled and pentagonal. The change from the circular to the pentagonal was sudden, and for 9 ft. this structure was maintained, when suddenly it returned to the circular. I have not been able to find any one who can explain the cause of this change of form. The drill men marveled at it and suggested vibration, six-stone bits, and several other hypotheses Which need not be mentioned." The writer became interested in the matter of core riflings some 10 years ago while in the Flat River lead region of Missouri, where many remarkable examples of "rifled" cores were observed and collected. Since that time similar phenomena have been observed in various localities throughout the United States and Canada, and samples have been gotten together illustrating a large number of variations in form. After a careful study had been made of the material at hand it seemed desirable that certain data should be obtained from the experience of others regarding the normal action of diamond drills in forming cores, portions of which are occasionally rifled, before an attempt was made to draw any conclusions as to their cause.

Jan 5, 1916

By Donald C. Barton

OF the four papers that comprise this Technical Publication, three are case histories of individual geophysical prospects, subsequently tested by drilling. The bibliography of Dr. Barton's published scientific paperst includes investigations in physiography and surface geological mapping, as well as his geophysical papers, and from this list it is to be observed that he early recognized the place of different types of geophysical prospecting methods in the search for geological structures of economic importance. Moreover, his viewpoint was not merely that the structures should be found, but that the geophysical data should be examined quantitatively to determine the geometry of the structures. In other words, that although these data are insufficient to deduce a unique form for the structure that caused the effects measured in the data, the engineering computations should be carried out to give as much of a definite configuration to the structure as the data permitted, in order that the testing of the structures could be conducted in the most economical manner and with the idea that the experience so gained could be later incorporated in the study of structures subsequently found. Dr. Barton continually emphasized the quantitative use of geophysical observations, whereas at the time that he began his specialization in geophysics it was considered sufficient to use observations only qualitatively. He, more than any one else, was responsible for the first volume on geophysical prospecting issued by the Institute in 1929, and his three articles in that volume stressed the quantitative use of geophysical prospecting. The fourth article in this present Technical Publication is a further contribution to this branch of geophysical interpretation, and is a supplement to the paper in the 1929 volume, "Calculations in the Interpretation of Observations with the Eötvös Torsion Balance." From the successful demonstration by Dr. Barton of the usefulness of quan-

Jan 1, 1946

By Royal Preston Jarvis

The jig, in one form or another, continues to hold a leading place among the machines designed to separate two or more

Jan 1, 1909

By M. R. Pickus, I. W. Pickus

Ordinarily age-hardening is thought of as being associated with a limited solubility of one metal in another. Much less has been written about the type of age-hardening that attends the formation of superstructures. Solid solutions generally have a disordered or random arrangement of atoms; that is to say, in a unit cell, such as that of the face-centered cubic lattice, there is no distinction between atomic sites. Atoms of a given metal may occupy cube corners or face centers. Under certain conditions, however, some alloys develop what is known as an ordered structure. In this case, cube corners would be occupied by only one type of atom and face centers by another type. Associated with this ordering process are many interesting changes in physical and electrical properties. Moreover, in many instances the alloys become susceptible to age-hardening. From the evidence now to be described, it appears that age-hardening in 14-carat gold alloys is due to the formation of both a superstructure and a precipitate. Alloys of the metals gold, silver and copper were known in antiquity. The available knowledge regarding their constitution has been ably summarized and extended by Sterner-Rainer,' Jänecke,2 Carter,3 Wise,4 and Coleman.5 Despite the long familiarity with these alloys and the numerous investigations of their properties that have been made, there is still much that remains unexplained. It has been known for a long time that the hardness of these alloys is closely related to the rate of cooling. Similar changes have been observed in the binary gold-copper systemI6 one alloy of which corresponding to the formula CU³AU, has been the subject of a careful and competent report by the English investigators, Sykes and Evans.7 They have established the fact that the shift of atoms from the ordered to the disordered condition takes place in some critical temperature range. At temperatures above the critical range the structure is random, and at temperatures below it the structure is ordered. No difference between these two structures is revealed by the microscope. Both have a face-centered cubic lattice and complete solubility, so that there is no evidence to suggest that the changes in properties are associated with a phase change. The more slowly the alloy is cooled, the higher is the degree to which the ordering process proceeds and the more marked is the increase in hardness. As experimental data were accumulated on I4-carat gold alloys, several contradictions arose. Certain observations tended to confirm the existence of a superstructure, while other observations seemed to be inconsistent with such a transformation. Present Investigation As a focal point about which to develop this subject, it is expedient to consider first

Jan 1, 1943

By R. B. Adamson

The fatigue behauior of irradiated copper single crystals is compared to that of unirradiated crystals. Proton or electron irradiation did not substantially change the fatigue-lzj.e, fatigue-hardening-, or slip-line characteristics, while neutron irradiation did appear to alter these parameters. Postfatigue transrrzission electron microscopy did not reveal any marked structural differazces between irradiated and unirradiated specimens. Possible dislocatio~a mechanisnzs to explain the observed behavior are discussed. A LTHOUGH considerable work has been done to ascertain the effects of radiation on the tensile properties of metals (e.g., Refs. 1 and 2), little work of a basic nature has been reported on the effect of radiation on fatigue properties. Since it is known that fatigue properties are sensitive to conditions at the surface of the metal, it was felt that charged particle irradiation, whose penetration into metals is very small, might influence the fatigue behavior. To investigate this surface effect, irradiations with 10 mev protons and 1.5 mev electrons were conducted. The range of 10 mev protons in copper is about 0.236 mm; which is very small compared with the thickness of the specimens used (1.53 mm). The range of 1.5 mev electrons is somewhat larger, on the order of 0.665 mm.4 On the other hand, irradiation with reactor neutrons produces damage throughout the entire specimen, so neutron irradiation can be used to study the effects of bulk damage. The damage introduced by proton and neutron irradiation is expected to con!ist of large interstitial dislocation loops,5 tiny (<25A) vacancy loops," and/or various vacancy-rich regions called depleted zones.&apos; In the case of electron irradiation at about -173°C the damage is expected to consist of isolated Frenkel pairs.&apos; The effect of radiation damage on the fatigue properties of some engineering materials has been reported,g,10 but the results are not clear-cut or consistent. SPECIMEN PREPARATION Zone-refined copper was used to grow single crystals by a modified Bridgeman technique in an inert helium atmosphere. Using a seeding method, single crystals were obtained as bars about 6 in. long with a cross section of 3 by $ in. Immediately upon removal from the split-mold graphite boat in which they were grown, the very soft bars were embedded in a room-temperature setting plastic. They could then be cut into specimen lengths without introducing any long-range damage. Generally, four or five specimens plus one seed were obtained from each bar. The plastic material was dissolved away in acetone and the orientation of each sample was checked by the standard Laue X-ray

Jan 1, 1968

By L. F. Engle, M. A. Hewedi

SUMMARY Initial interest in using solutions of ammonium salts to leach native copper was documented in notes from an AIME meeting in 1871; By 1916-1917, application of the NH3-CO2-H2O system to recover nonferrous metals attained commercial significance, when it was used as a process for copper recovery by Kennecott Copper Corporation and Calumet & Hecla Mining Company. The Caron work in the early 1920s, Freeport Sulphur Company’s achievements leaching Cuban laterites during World War II, out- standing accomplishments in both eastern and western Canada, recovery of manganese related to the work of Dean -- all serve as landmarks as this One Century Review surveys a base for future technology. Current emphasis on compatibility of metals-producing systems with the need to meet environmental protection criteria provides special encouragement to researchers and engineers to find accept- able ways of recovering metals. The ever-present demand of management to design, build and operate facilities on a profitable basis provides additional impetus to apply information from the technical literature to that need. Examination of the general approach to this paper will reveal much that is firm and positive with respect to empirical results -- extractions, recoveries, amenability to familiar proven equipment and materials of construction common to the industry. Although there are many references, there are gaps in the basic scientific data that if filled could lead to even more usefulness; the paper attempts to indicate where further information is needed.

Jan 1, 1973

By David H. Browne, John F. Thompson

The literature dealing with the physical constants of nickel is so fragmentary and unrelated that a synopsis presents unusual difficulties. It is only within the last few years that investigators have understood the importance of placing on record not only the determinations they have made but also the composition, physical treatment, and past history of the material investigated. For this reason much of the earlier literature is valueless. Determinations have been made of the same physical constants on samples differing widely in origin, composition, and treatment, and the results differ widely among themselves. In the first place nickel is almost as flexible a term as steel. Its physical properties are widely influenced by its composition and treatment. It absorbs large quantities of gases and is exceedingly difficult to prepare in a state of chemical purity comparable to gold, silver, or copper. It is vitally affected by thermal and mechanical treatment. Hence in the following pages the recorded literature, where quoted, must be accepted with a certain reserve and used, as far as possible, as a check on later observations, in which these important factors are noted. In every case where new determinations are given, an attempt has been made to record all available information concerning the composition and treatment of the material used so that the data may serve as stepping-stones toward a wider knowledge of the properties of the metal. As this synopsis is an attempt by men of metallurgical training to do what should long before have been done by physicists, it is to be expected that certain errors may have crept in. Any corrections or suggestions

Jan 1, 1921

By Burnham E. Field

TAE chemical industry is constantly looking for new materials which either are more resistant to corrosion than those now available or have improved physical properties to meet the requirements of higher temperatures and greater pressures. Attack by acids is-one of the more important forms of corrosion-and in the last few years the development of acid-resistant alloys has been quite rapid. Perhaps the most notable example is that of nitric acid, &apos;the problem of which has largely been solved by the chromium-iron and chromium-iron-nickel alloys. Sulfuric acid may be handled in lead, iron, or the iron-silicon alloys, depending on conditions. As to hydrochloric acid, no metal or alloy can be called entirely satisfactory for handling. this acid under plant conditions.1 The results of our investigations on the resistance of the nickel-molybdenum alloys to hydrochloric acid have been confirmed by those of Guertler, Rohn, Schulz, Jenge, and others,&apos; but thus far only one such alloy has approached commercial production in Germany; this contains approximately 15 per cent. chromium and 7 per cent. molybdenum with the remainder chiefly nickel. Dr. S. W. Parr, as far back as 1914, developed a complex alloy known as "illium," with a nickel base and containing some molybdenum.3 Dr. Parr was primarily interested in an alloy for lining bomb calorimeters, and while illium does show good resistance to acid it is too expensive for general use. Two United States

Jan 1, 1929

By Walter Remmers

THE fact that gray iron increases in volume, cracks and distorts upon repeated heating and cooling is rather common knowledge. In ingot molds, Diesel engine pistons, carburizing boxes, continuous furnace parts, grate bars, stoker parts, and all castings that are subjected repeatedly to high and low temperatures, the phenomenon of growth presents a vital problem. Ingot molds distort and produce cracks which result in seams or laps and later appear as defects in the finished product. The heads of Diesel pistons frequently fail by cracking in a stellar shape. This is attributed usually to the result of permanent growth. Distortion and change of dimension of furnace parts frequently renders them entirely unusuable. In chain grate stokers, mechanical difficulties frequently are caused by the growth of the links. In proper operation these links should never attain a temperature sufficiently high to start growth; nevertheless, some have grown 1/8 in. on an 8-in. length when improperly operated. Even though the phenomenon is generally known there still exists a deficiency in the explanation of the mechanism of this growth. The field of investigators of this subject has a decided variation in opinion concerning the causes. The problem is of sufficient importance therefore to warrant further consideration.

Jan 1, 1930

By E. L. Jr. Spain

This study was undertaken primarily to determine the reasons for certain varia-tions in the soundness of gravel aggregate taken from a number of widely separated points on the Tennessee River. Under laboratory tests, concrete made with these various aggregates it some cases exhibited marked differences in specific gravity, crushing strength and durability. Gravel was studied in detail from Chattanooga to the mouth of the river and to a lesser extent from Chattanooga to Knoxville. The causes of variation were determined, and variational curves were constructed, which accurately predict the composition of aggregate at any point on the river and therefore its relative suitability for use in concrete. The aggregate at any point is suited for making sound concrete; the variance of suitability is due to varying percentages of sandstone and weathered material, which are less sound than other constituents. INTRODUCTION When it is stated that the aggregate from one point is inferior to that from another, it must not be construed to mean that the gravel is unfit for use. The classification upon which such aggregate ratings are based is largely arbitrary, thus inferiority or superiority is merely relative. Samples of gravel were selected from stockpiles at the dams of the Tennessee Valley Authority under construction, from the stockpiles of private companies along the river, and from samples taken by the gravel-exploration barge of the T. V. A. One hundred or more gravels of each size studied were selected at random by taking small handfulls while walking around the piles. These were separated according to the differ-ent mineral or rock constituents present, and the percentage of each constituent was obtained by counting. At least three such samples were taken from each size, and all checked with one another within a few per cent. The results were then averaged. In order to check on the accu-racy of such sampling, a whole sample was taken from one point after the gravel was thoroughly mixed. The two methods gave approximately identical results.

Jan 1, 1937