Search Documents

By J. J. Kramer, W. A. Tiller, G. F. Bolling

The solidification of poly crystalline zone-refined lead has been examined. A novel casting technique was used, with several advantages such as unidirectional heat flow, atmosphere control, and decanting of the liquid during any stage of growth. The experimental results show the separate existence of two textures, a (111) surface texture at the chill surface and a texture in the columnar zone, in the absence of conditions which would produce dendritic growth. WALTON and chalmers have most recently shown that the dendrite direction is the preferred axial orientation for the solidification of many metals in casting. Experimentally, for aluminum and lead, they showed that in the columnar zone the dendrite direction, <l00>, predominated, developing from an equiaxed chill cast layer that exhibited no preferred orientation. A reasonable description of the way in which grains closer to the dendrite orientation were able to encompass other grains was then set forth. For their materials, it was also shown that high superheats could inhibit a preferred axial orientation from developing, presumably by inhibiting dendrite growth. The observations of Rosenberg and iller, on the other hand, showed that zone-refined lead, cast under conditions similar to those of Walton and halmers,&apos; had a definite <111> texture in the columnar zone. However, no examination was made of the chill surface to find out if the columnar zone texture was independent of the orientations at the surface. Since the existence of preferred growth in Upure" lead is thus in doubt, a reexamination of the casting of zone-refined lead is presented here, using a novel casting technique. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES AND RESULTS Zone-refined lead was prepared from two starting materials;99.999+pct supplied by ASARCO, and 99.999pct supplied by COMINCO. The manner of zone-refining and the phenomenological tests for purity after refining, have been describedelsewhere.&apos; The casting apparatus is shown schematically in Fig. 1. The following general procedure was used: The metal was cut directly from the best parts of

Jan 1, 1963

By G. Sachs, L. J. Ebert, W. F. Brown

IT is a generally recognized fact that a steel quenched from the austenitic range and tempered to yield a structure composed of tempered martensite becomes increasingly more ductile with increasing tempering temperature. However, the conventional tensile test fails to yield any value that is sensitive to differences in behavior on tempering among the various low-alloy steels or among different heats of a particular steel. The notched impact bending test, on the other hand, has been recognized for a considerable length of time as capable of revealing differences in impact properties among various steels tempered to the same strength level (i.e., the same tensile strength in a conventional tensile test), However, this test is very complex and its significance has not been clarified up to the present time. Of its three characteristic features-the high speed, the notch, and the bending-the notch has been found by Davidenkov2 to be the most potent embrittling factor. Recent investigations on low-alloy steels3,4,7,8 have shown static notch-bar tensile tests to be more lucid and to evaluate the metal properties in much the same manner as impact tests, In an attempt to analyze the fundamental nature of this test,8 it was found possible to separate the effects of the two basic characteristics of the stress pattern introduced by the presence of a circumferential notch, the stress state and the high initial stress concentration at the notch bottom, The major conclusions drawn from these previous investigations were as follows: I. The magnitude of the triaxiality at fracture depends primarily on the initial notch depth. Its effect is a great reduction in the average ductility (contraction in area at fracture in the notched section) as compared with that observed in uniaxial tension, This triaxial stress state occurs at a point in the interior of the notch specimen, It determines the notch ductility if the notch is mild and/or the metal possesses a considerable ductility. On the contrary, brittle specimens probably fracture on the metal surface (at the notch bottom) at which point biaxial stress state is present, This biaxiality also considerably reduces the ductility of the metal. For small notch ductilities the notch strength and the notch ductility become very sensitive to embrittling factors, This is contrary to the behavior of the ductility values derived from a conventional tensile test, which are comparatively insensitive.

Jan 1, 1946

By Afrodite Ntziouni, Vassilia Kasselouri – Rigopoulou, Athanasia Kyritsi, Konstantinos N. Pistiolas, Stamatia Gavela, Konstantinos Kordatos, Lazaros Iliadis

"The present study deals with the production and characterization of rice husk ash (RHA) and its use in the synthesis of zeolite of type ZSM-5. Rice husk was combusted in various temperatures with aim to find the suitable conditions for the production of amorphous silica. The resulted amorphous silica ash was then utilized as a starting material for the synthesis of ZSM-5 zeolite using the low temperature and atmospheric pressure process. The method led successfully to the synthesis of highly siliceous zeolite of type ZSM-5. The produced material was characterized using x-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).IntroductionRice husk is a major by-product of the rice-milling industries and it is usually used as a fuel for steam generation due to its high calorific power. During its combustion, rice husk ash (RHA) is produced. Knowing that the annual rice world production is over 615 million tons (2005), thus resulting in a potential production of more than 22 million tons of RHA [1], it can be understood that the RHA disposal is a crucial issue towards the environmental protection. However, due to the high silica content, RHA can be used as an alternative cheap source of silica for many uses, including as filler in polymers [2], concrete [3] and synthesis of zeolites [4-7].The burning of rice husk in air results in the formation of RHA with content in SiO2 that varies from 87 to 97% depending on the burning conditions, the rice variety, the climate and the geographic area [8]. Some small amounts of inorganic impurities are always present in the ash along with unburned carbon. The unburned carbon can be removed from the ash by further heating treatments in high temperatures, but this usually leads to the crystallization of the amorphous silica to cristobalite and/or tridymite [9]. The crystallization of the contained silica of the ash is also occurred when the burning conditions of husk are uncontrolled [10]. This crystallization is a disadvantage towards the preparation of silicon based materials, because the silica ash is rendered inactive in its crystalline form [11]."

Jan 1, 2008

By K. J. Brondyke, P. D. Hess

Two processes have been developed for improving the quality of molten-aluminum alloys before casting. The Filtration Process. which involves passing molten metal through a packed bed of granular filter material, is a rapid means of removing finely divided particles. It has the most potential in those instances where removal of inclusions is of primary importance. The Combination Fillration-Inert Gas Fluxing Process inuolzles introduction of an inert gas so that it will diffuse countercurrent to metal flow through the filter bed of granular material. Dissolved hydrogen is removed from the metal in addition to removal of finely divided particles. The Combination Process is most useful where both inclusion removal and attainment of conistently low-hydrogen-content metal are important. Metal treated by the Combination Process is of higher and more uniform quality than heretofore attainable with prolonged chlorine fluxing. Costs of the Combination Process can, for the most part, be offset by savings derived from high recoveries and increased production of superior-quality products. IMPROVEMENT in the quality of molten-aluminum alloys is secured generally through the use of some fluxing practice in a crucible, holding furnace, or ladle involving either gaseous or solid fluxing media. Typical fluxing agents may include the gases nitrogen, argon, or chlorine used either singly or as mixtures and the solids aluminum chloride or hexachloroethane. Regardless of the fluxing means used, the primary objectives are the adequate removal of both metallic and nonmetallic inclusions and reduction of hydrogen content to an acceptably low level. The ultimate goal is to produce ingots and cast products of high quality free from inclusions and porosity. The development of ultrasonics for measurement of internal quality, tightening of quality controls, and the application of the aluminum alloys to new or different commercial fields have been responsible for an ever increasing demand for improvement of quality of both cast and fabricated products. This demand for high quality has not been restricted to any single type of product. On the contrary, the demand encompasses about the entire variety of products including those for fabrication, those to be machined, buffed, or finished for decorative purposes, and those for critical applications where both surface and internal quality is of utmost importance. In many instances products acceptable in the 40&apos;s would now be scrapped as unacceptable by these higher present-day standards. With this ever increasing demand for higher quality, it became apparent at Alcoa that conventional means of melt treatment were inadequate in many instances and new approaches were necessary. Consequently the research program was intensified with attention focused on metal treatment during transfer in order to reduce the furnace processing time to a minimum in an effort to attain the desired results at a minimum of additional expense. As a result of this intensive research program which covered numerous variations and adaptations of conventional methods in addition to new methods of melt treatment, several new processes were developed, two of which will be described here. The first of these, a method of melt filtration, was patented in February, 1959.l The second process involving combination filtration—inert gas fluxing was patented in June, 1962. 2 Other melt-treatment processes developed during this period of investigation were patented as listed.3 FILTRATION PROCESS General Description. The Filtration Process, which involves passing molten metal through a packed bed of granular filter material, is a rapid method of effectively removing finely divided particles. It is an impingement-type filter; hence the size of the particles removed from the metal are considerably smaller than the interstices of the

Jan 1, 1964

By John E. Dorn, Oscar E. Harder

The phenomenon of diffusion, according to the most prevalent conceptions at the present time, undoubtedly played an important part in the formation and distribution of metals and minerals in the earth&apos;s crust. Apparently there is good evidence that in the geological rate of cooling diffusion caused numerous materials to separate into individual masses or into duplex structures. As is well known, the early steels were made by cementation; that is, by heating wrought ferrous metal in contact with carburizing materials so as to produce a relatively high carbon content on the surface. If the process was continued long enough, the carbon diffused throughout the piece. A more homogeneous product depended upon further heating and forging, so that the carbon diffused to a fairly uniform concentration throughout the metal. In the modern metallurgical industry, diffusion is the basis for many operations; for example, the production of hard surfaces on steels by carburizing, nitriding, cementing with chromium, silicon, boron and beryllium. Castings or ingots as they solidify do not have homogeneous structures, but these structures are made largely homogeneous by suitable process of heat-treating and the resulting diffusion. It is in modern physical metallurgy, however, that we become greatly concerned about the mechanism of the phenomenon of diffusion. The rates of diffusion, effect of temperature and time on diffusion, and the relation of diffusion to the many properties of the parent metal and the diffusing metal have become important; also, we are concerned with the diffusion of a single metal into a complex alloy. For example, what is the mechanism whereby carbon and nitrogen travel into steel? What is the effect of alloying elements in the ferrous material on the rates of diffusions? What is the effect of simultaneous diffusion of carbon and nitrogen? How does chromium, beryllium, boron, or the like, diffuse into the steel, and what are the effects of alloying elements in the steel previous to the cementation process? These inquiries are by no means limited

Jan 1, 1938

By Oscar E. Harder, John E. Dorn

The phenomenon of diffusion, according to the most prevalent conceptions at the present time, undoubtedly played an important part in the formation and distribution of metals and minerals in the earth&apos;s crust. Apparently there is good evidence that in the geological rate of cooling diffusion caused numerous materials to separate into individual masses or into duplex structures. As is well known, the early steels were made by cementation; that is, by heating wrought ferrous metal in contact with carburizing materials so as to produce a relatively high carbon content on the surface. If the process was continued long enough, the carbon diffused throughout the piece. A more homogeneous product depended upon further heating and forging, so that the carbon diffused to a fairly uniform concentration throughout the metal. In the modern metallurgical industry, diffusion is the basis for many operations; for example, the production of hard surfaces on steels by carburizing, nitriding, cementing with chromium, silicon, boron and beryllium. Castings or ingots as they solidify do not have homogeneous structures, but these structures are made largely homogeneous by suitable process of heat-treating and the resulting diffusion. It is in modern physical metallurgy, however, that we become greatly concerned about the mechanism of the phenomenon of diffusion. The rates of diffusion, effect of temperature and time on diffusion, and the relation of diffusion to the many properties of the parent metal and the diffusing metal have become important; also, we are concerned with the diffusion of a single metal into a complex alloy. For example, what is the mechanism whereby carbon and nitrogen travel into steel? What is the effect of alloying elements in the ferrous material on the rates of diffusions? What is the effect of simultaneous diffusion of carbon and nitrogen? How does chromium, beryllium, boron, or the like, diffuse into the steel, and what are the effects of alloying elements in the steel previous to the cementation process? These inquiries are by no means limited

Jan 1, 1938

By Gift Makusha

Surface subsidence associated with coal mining activities in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa changes the natural environment in several ways, and current challenges for mining companies include rehabilitation of the natural environment and the prevention of further degradation. To monitor the spatial and temporal evolution of surface subsidence, traditional fieldbased monitoring approaches such as GPS and spirit leveling are employed at a number of locations. However, the resulting measurements are point-based, and frequent revisitations are necessary to map the evolution of surface subsidence basins over time. To address these limitations, differential interferograms derived from repeat-pass satellite-borne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems were tested for their ability to measure and monitor surface deformation. The SAR data was captured by the European ERS-1 and ERS-2 satellite and covered a timeframe between 2008- 09-15 and 2008-09-15. The resulting interferograms revealed several features indicative of surface subsidence. Ground truth data confirmed the presence of a subsidence basin, detected using differential interferometry techniques during the 35-day period between April 12, 2008 and May 17, 2008; a maximum vertical deformation of 3.2 cm (1.3 in) was recorded. Interferometric monitoring revealed an eastward migration of the subsidence basin between June 2, 2008 and September 15, 2008 with an additional 4.7 cm (1.9 in) of subsidence observed. This migration coincides with the advance of the working face of the mine during this period. Finite element modeling will be performed in order to model the rates and evolution of surface subsidence haloes as underground mining advances. These presented results demonstrate the ability of interferometric synthetic aperture radar techniques to measure surface subsidence as well as the monitoring of the evolution of subsidence basins over time. This implies that the technique could be included, together with traditional field-based surveying techniques, in an operational monitoring system. With knowledge on deformation rates and subsidence basin evolution, informed decisions on current and future infrastructure development can be made and remedial actions and prevention strategies can be formulated for the problems associated with environmental degradation.

Jan 1, 2011

By Bernard L. Merlo

INTRODUCTION Modern mine management is constantly striving to develop improved mining methods which will not only increase productivity, but will also provide a safer work environment and make the most efficient use of our natural resources. Progress can be seen in this area by tracing mining methods through history. Work that was originally done with hand tools progressed with the age of mechanization to conventional mining, matured to continuous and longwall mining, and the advent of short¬wall mining, a combination of continuous and longwall, has recently been seen. This new method of shortwall mining provides a promising method for safe and ex¬pedient coal extraction. This study focuses upon the planning, design de¬velopment, and operation of the first producing short¬wall unit in the US which was operated in the Pittsburgh coal seam in northern West Virginia. MINE DESCRIPTION The mine is located in northern West Virginia at Grant Town in the heart of the high volatile Pittsburgh coal seam. Originally opened in 1901, the mine has be¬come one of the largest in the US, encompassing an area of approximately 103.6 sq km (40 sq miles). The seam being mined was the high volatile Pittsburgh seam which ranged in thickness from 1.8 to 2.96 m (6 to 91/2 ft). Three types of mining methods were employed: con¬tinuous mining, longwalling, and shortwalling, with each type accounting for 50%, 30%, and 20% of total pro¬duction, respectively. A total of 630 contract and super¬visory personnel were employed to produce the mine&apos;s designed annual tonnage of 1.8 Mt (2 million st). There were ten producing sections, eight continuous miners, one longwall, and one shortwall, operating a total of 22 unit shifts per day. Eight shafts, varying in depth from 80.2 to 194.2 m (263 to 637 ft) provided entrance to the Pittsburgh coal seam. These shafts were used for ventilation, portaling, coal hoisting, supply, and emergency escape hoisting. Ventilation was achieved by means of three exhaust fans which provided 707.9 m3/s (1.5 million cfm) of air to the mine and removed approximately 141 584 m3 (5 mil¬lion cu ft) of methane per 24 hr period. The room-and-pillar method was used for secondary recovery with designed barrier blocks between panels of 61 m (200 ft) in width. A double row of blocks was left around each gob area to provide efficient bleeder action

Jan 1, 1982

By Richard L. Sayrs

"The Stiner zinc prospect near the north boundary of Union Tennessee, and the Bunch Hollow property 5 miles northeast in Claiborne County, Tennessee, were diamond-drilled by the Bureau of Mines during the period .September 1, 1944, to February 22, 1945. Seventeen holes totaling 5,687 feet were completed, 13 of which, totaling, 5.083 feet, were on the Stiner property and the remainder, totaling 604 feet, at Bunch Hollow.The Stiner prospect is about 1 mile east of the old workings known as ""New Prospect"" or ""Lead Mine Bend."" The Federal Geological Survey made a study' of the area early in 1944. The prospect was first visited in August 1944 by Bureau of' Mines engineers3/ accompanied by members of the Federal Geological Survey.4/ The locality is reached by traveling State Road 33 north-about 9 miles from Maynardsville, Tenn., thence northwest about 7 miles by an improved county road that leads to the mine (fig. 1). The tract comprises an area of about 181 acres held by G. S. Stiner of Sharps Chapel, Tenn.; it is now under option to the Universal-Exploration Co. of Jefferson City, Tenn.The Bunch Hollow property, about 5 miles northeast of the Stiller prospect, was also studied by the Federal Geological Survey previous to being;Visited by Bureau of Mines engineers in August 1944. It is reached by traveling north from Maynardsville, Tenn., on State Road 33 about 13 miles, thence northwest by county road 6 miles to the property (fig. 1). The last 3 miles of the county road are in poor repair but are passable during the entire year. The property comprises an area of approximately 300 acres and is held by the imperial Mining Co., Pressman's Home, Tenn.Few reliable data are available as to the history of the Stiner prospects themselves. However, the New Prospect mine, 1 mile west, has had a colorful past, This mine was opened in 1883 and was worked intermittently until 1918, by which time more than 65,000 tons of concentrates had been shipped. No further work was done until 1942, when the mine pillars were robbed and 1,900 tons of ore averaging 25 percent zinc was shipped to the New Jersey Zinc Co., Austinville, Va."

Apr 1, 1946

By G. Camposano, J. Aponte, B. A. Ferguson

The paper covers mining operations and preparation of the ore prior to metallurgical treatment in the Process Plant. Mining operations are primarily concerned with the delivery to Ore Preparation of a balanced ore feed within fairly rigid specifications as to both ore type and chemical analysis. The mining method, systems of geological and engineering control, and the equipment employed are therefore reviewed in this context. In Part One of the paper the physical and geological characteristics of the orebodies, including the varied nature of the ore itself, are first described. Orebody evaluation, the calculation and classification of ore reserves, mining planning and forecasting to ensure continuity of production are covered, and the particular problems presented by sampling, the erratic distribution of ore values and the variation in the density of the ores are also mentioned. Mine design and ore excavation practice are described, together with the way in which they have evolved with recent developments in modern mining equipment. In Part Two of the paper, a detailed description of the Ore Preparation plant is given, centred around the concept of rubbling as a means of separation of the barren hard boulders from soft lateritic ore. Ore blending and ore reclamation operations are explained followed by a detailed description of the drying and crushing plant. The importance of the control of moisture content and ore sizing in the feed to the metallurgical plant is emphasized.

Jan 1, 1979

By W. L. Price

Recent publication of United States Bureau of Mines figures showed that the sand and gravel (3) industry is the largest single mining industry in the United States in term of yearly tonnage produced. The yearly production of over 500,000,000 tons per year now exceed bituminous coal production. This disclosure caught unawares many observers who have not been following closely the rapid-growth of this phase of mining. Along with this steady growth in production, the sand and gravel industry has gone through an accelerated and varied program of beneficiation in a period of the last ten years.

Jan 1, 1958

By Al Holmes

"In a recent survey of Canadian work values, 89% of the men surveyed and 97% of the women surveyed described the work in a mine as ""not at all auraetive"", Work in a mine, in fact, was rated by both sexes as the least attractive of all of the types of work surveyed. Confronted with this prevailing attitude, Canada&apos;s mining industry starts out with two strikes against it in its bid to attract and hold on to its fair share of available work force.Behavioural scientists have, for decades, been seeking answers to the questions:• ""Why do people work?""• ""Why do people choose a particular occupation?""• ""Why do people choose a particular organization?""• ""Why do people leave one organization for another?""• ""Why do some people stay in an organization?""• ""Why do some people work harder than others?""Their answers to these questions, although tentative and often contradictory, are being used by more and more organizations to solve people problems. Few industries can afford to ignore them, least of all, perhaps, the mining industry.Consider the following developments:I. General Motors and the United Auto Workers turn around the car assembly plant in Tarrytown, New York in seven years from the plant with the poorest labour relations and production record to one of the best under a program referred to as ""improving the quality of work life.""2. Shell Canada and the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers have designed a new petro-chemical processing plant in Sarnia using a set of principles that seek to optimize both the social and the technical system."

Jan 1, 1980

This paper examines manning best practice in the Australian mining industry, comparing the mining of gold with mining of other commodities. In particular, the paper considers a range of mining operations and their manning levels as measured by operational benchmarking. The benchmarking results presented cover 7 open pit and 14 underground studies of gold mines in Australia from a database of over 50 studies. The data were collected as part of AMC?s benchmarking and operational improvement studies conducted between 1999 and 2009. The results examine overall manning levels in mining, processing and administration functions. Manning levels for a range of mining methods, including open pit and underground methods, are segmented. Productivity measures such as ore tonnes per man day and metres developed per man day are presented and where direct relationships can be established, the relationships are described. The proportion of supervisory to operations personnel and labour costs as a percentage of total operating costs is highlighted. Minimum manning requirements for the range of mining methods are indicated, irrespective of the size of the operation. The benchmarking results provide guidance by indicating a range of manning numbers and trends which are likely to be appropriate for the scale and type for a range of mining operations. When combined with benchmarked productivity and cost data, manning results help identify potential areas for business improvement, driving gains in the efficiency of labour. Finally, the paper considers perspectives on best practice for manning and the limitations in application of this type of analysis in a global context.

Jan 1, 2009

By Michael Fehler, Hidenshi Kaieda, Leigh House

Hydraulic fracturing has gained in popularity in recent years as a way to determine the orientations and magnitudes of tectonic stresses. By augmenting conventional hydraulic fracturing measurements with detection and mapping of the microearthquakes induced by fracturing, we can supplement and independent1 y confirm information obtained from conventional analysis. Important information obtained from seismic monitoring includes: the state of stress of the rock, orientation and spacing of the major joint sets, and measurements of rock elastic parameters at locations distant from the wellbore. While conventional we1l 1ogging operations can provide information about several of these parameters, the zone of interrogation is usually limited to the immediate proximity of the borehole. The seismic waveforms of the microearthquakes contain a wealth of information about the rock in regions that are otherwise inaccessible for study. By reliably locating the hypocenters of many microearthquakes, we have inferred the joint patterns in the rock. We observed that microearthquake locations do not define a simple, thin, planar distribution, that the fault plane solutions are consistent with shear slippage, and that spectral analysis indicates that the source dimensions and slip along the faults are small. Hence we be1 ieve that the microearthquakes result from slip along preexisting joints, and not from tensile extension at the tip of the fracture. Orientations of the principal stresses can be estimated by using fault plane solutions of the larger microearthquakes. By using a joint earthquake location scheme, and/or calibrations with downhole detonators, rock velocities and heterogeneities thereof can be investigated in rock volumes that are far enough from the borehole to be representative of intrinsic rock properties.

Jan 1, 1986

By G. Rowan, M. W. Clegg

Approximate analytical solutions for non-Darcy radial gas flow are derived for bounded and infinite reservoirs producing at either constant rate or constant pressure. These analytical solutions are compared with published results for non-Darcy flow obtained on digital and analogue computers, and the agreement is show to be very good. Some observations on the interpretation of gas well tests are made. INTRODUCTION The flow of gases in porous media is a problem that has been the subject of much study in recent years [l - 71 , and many methods have been proposed for solving the non-linear equations associated with it. The assumption that the flow satisfies Darcy&apos;s Law It has been observed, however, that the linear relationship between the flow rate and pressure gradient is only approximately valid even at low flow rates, and that as the flow rate increases the deviations from linearity also increase. It has been suggested by a number of authors that Darcy&apos;s Law should be replaced by a quadratic flow law of the form This form of equation was first suggested by Forchheimer [9] and, later, Katz and Cornell [10], and Irmay [lll, developed a similar equation. Houpeurt [12] derived this form of equation using the concept of an idealised pore system in which each channel consists of sequences of truncated cones giving rise to successive restrictive orifices along the channel. This type of representation leads to a quadratic flow law of type [4], for all fluids, but it is found that the quadratic term is only significant in the case of gas flow. The methods of Houpeurt for solving gas flow problems will be discussed further in another section of this paper. Solutions of the non-linear equation for Darcy gas flow 121 may be classified as either computer (digital and analogue), or approximate analytical ones. The former include the well-known solutions of Bruce et al. [13], and Aronofsky and Jenkins [14] , but the latter solutions, apart from the simple linearisation of equation (2) to yield a diffusion equation in p2 , are not so well-known. Amongst these approximate analytical solutions should be mentioned the work of Barenblatt [IS], who has applied the techniques of dimensional analysis to obtain similarity solution to a large class of non-linear equations; also, a number of Russian authors, including Barenblatt [16] , Kim [17] and others, who have used the method of moments for obtain-

Jan 1, 1965

Jan 1, 1928

By Harry M. Bendler, W. A. Wood

Electron metallography has been applied to the study of the torsional fatigue of polycrystalline OFHC* copper. The development of slip bands, fis- sures, and microcracks has been followed as a function of strain amplitude and number of cycles. Those factors that have been found to be relevant to a geometrical theory of the fatigue process are described. From the point of view of this theory it is important to distinguish between the effects of cycling at large amplitudes and at small amplitudes (true fatigue deformation). EARLY investigations showed metal fatigue cracking is caused by continued reversal of a small plastic strain. Fundamental study of fatigue, therefore, has been largely concerned with the cumulative effects of these plastic reversals on the metal structure. In particular, recent work has shown that the plastic reversals produce slip movements that are finer than the slip movements produced by unidirectional increments of plastic strain; individual slip movements in fatigue, for instance, are too fine to see by optical microscopy.2 It has also been shown that the fine slip movements of fatigue tend to concentrate in bands and that in this way they can build up, after enough cycles, a progressive surface disturbance. It is this disturbance which, in effect, makes the slip movement visible. It is also in this disturbance that the first cracks appear to form. From this point of view, therefore, the problem of fatigue becomes one of finding why the fine slip movements should concentrate in bands and why the. bands should finally open into cracks. Thus far, study of the slip bands has been limited to the changes they produce at the surface only. These studies have given interesting results. Ewing and Humfrey3 many years ago showed that the bands in iron could extrude debris. Forsyth found that bands in aluminum alloys could extrude thin tongues of material. Thompson showed that, after lightly dissolving away the surface of copper specimens, some bands persisted as superficial cracks might, and that the life of a specimen under fatigue deformation might be prolonged by dissolving away the surface at intervals. Thus these and related results have suggested that the metal structure in fatigue bands may disintegrate and that this may happen long before obvious cracking. These surface studies, however, have not shown definitely how cracking may begin, for they do not show sufficiently what is happening in depth. However, some advance in this direction has been made recently by a new approach, summarized later, which reveals slip bands and their surface disturbances in section. In the work done thus far, the sections have been studied by optical microscopy only. In the present work they have also been studied by electron microscopy with extended results. This paper also describes some observations on the surface disturbances prior to sectioning. These observations are relevant to a suggested theory of fatigue cracking. REVERSED SLIP MOVEMENTS Slip movements in fatigue deformation must reverse direction in each cycle. The question arises: DO the "backward" and "forward" movements take

Jan 1, 1962

By R. L. Rickett, W. C. Leslie, W. D. Lafferty

Notch toughness of 0.10&apos;pct C steels, rimmed or killed, is improved by holding the steel at a temperature just above the Ae,, followed by air cooling. The improvement can be gained without apparent change in gross microstructure or hardness. The limits of the process have been determined and some possible reasons for the observed effects are discussed. The results appear to indicate that the current theories of transition temperature are inadequate. THE effects of gross microstructural variables (ferrite grain size, austenite grain size, type and distribution of carbides) on the notch toughness of mild steels have been the subject of many investigations.&apos;-&apos; The results indicate that increasing ferrite grain size raises the notch-impact transition temperature. The transition temperature also rises with increasing size of pearlite colonies and with increasing prior austenite grain size, but these factors are not independent of ferrite grain size. The effects of gross composition of steels have also received considerable attention. As a result, manganese, nickel, aluminum, and silicon are known to improve the notch toughness of mild steels. The other elements that have been investigated—carbon, nitrogen, boron, copper, chromium, molybdenum, phosphorus, sulfur, titanium, and vanadium—reportedly are either deleterious or have little effect on notch toughness. Despite this large volume of work, it is still not possible to predict the notch toughness of a mild steel from its microstructure and composition, even when these are supplemented by hardness and tensile tests. Steels with equivalent microstructures, but different thermal and/or mechanical histories, can differ in notch toughness. Such factors as type and distribution of precipitates, substructure, local variations in composition, or unrecognized variables, may be important in determining the notch toughness of mild steels. However, quantitative knowledge of the effects produced by these factors is almost completely lacking. In an effort to improve this situation, an investigation was begun to determine the effect of a very fine precipitate on the notch toughness of low-carbon steels. Aluminum nitride was chosen as the precipitate because of its presence in aluminum-killed steels, the ease of control of precipitation, and past

Jan 1, 1961

By F. W. Newhall

DURING the latter part of the year 1931, the Republic mine of the Republic Steel Corporation, at Republic, about 4 miles south of Browns-ville, Pa., was mining coal along four rib or fracture lines. One of these lines, the west butt rib line, was retreating towards a concrete-lined air shaft, 320 ft. deep, which had been sunk in 1911 for ventilation purposes. With the normal rate of mining at that time, it was expected that this rib line would pass the shaft in three or four months and the shaft would then be abandoned and allowed to cave. Realizing the opportunity presented for the study of an unusual case of ground movement, the question of conducting the study was presented by the junior author to the chairman of the Institute&apos;s committee on Ground Movement and Subsidence, Mr. George S. Rice, who presented the matter to Mr. G. H. Morse, General Manager of the Northern Mines, Republic Steel Corpora-tion, and he agreed to cooperate with the Bureau of Mines in making the study, the results of which are presented in this paper. Acknowledg-ments are due to Mr. Morse for his full cooperation in this work and to Mr. G. S. Rice and Mr. J. W. Paul, both of the U. S. Bureau of Mines, for their advice and guidance during the course of the work. The authors are indebted to Mr. B. F. Herbert, mining engineer, Northern Coal Mines, Republic Steel Corporation, who assisted in all the surveys, and Mr. W. H. Smith, draftsman, U. S. Bureau of Mines, who prepared all illustrations for publication.

Jan 1, 1934

By Sir John Cadnan

The production from the Maidan-i-Naftun area for the year ending March, 1928, was 5,340,000 tons (40,210,200 bbl.), an increase of nearly 13 per cent. over the production for the year ending in March, 1927. The production by years since the opening of the field in 1912 is given in the following table: [1 ton = 7.53 bbl.] Year Ended MaRch Tons Year Ended March Tons 1912 (7 months)............. 43,084 1920....................... 1,354,631 1913........................ 80,800 1921....................... 1,767,070 1914........................ 273,635 1922....................... 2,310,098 1915........................ 375,977 1923....................... 2,913,908 1916........................ 449,394 1924....................... 3,583,000 1917........................ 644,074 1925....................... 4,221,000 1918........................ 897,402 1926....................... 4,470,000 1919....................... 1,081,919 1927....................... 4,735,000 1928....................... 5,340,000 The actual production represents only a small proportion of the potential production. The Masjid-i-Suleiman Field The present producing unit, the Masjid-I-Suleiman, is an anticline some 20 miles in length by 4 miles in width, including three domes as so far proved. The producing horizon is a very open, dolomitic limestone, which, while showing much variation in texture and porosity, is so connected that the lowering of pressure in one section of the field quickly affects the whole area. The topography of the field is broken, with differences of well elevations of as much as 1100 ft. The depths to the limestone vary from about 800 to about 5000 ft. The closed-in pressure of the oil wells varies from zero to 50 lb. per sq. in. and that of the gas wells is about 450 Ib. Although the static oil level may be several hundred feet below ground level, in oil wells of high elevation, all the wells flow continuously or intermittently after they are once started—the majority continuously. The gas is very high in hydrogen sulfide in gas-oil wells of low pressure.

Jan 1, 1929