The Engineering Experiment Station

Report Of The Director

To the President of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute:

The organization of the station included: J. S. A. Johnson, director; F. H. Fish, half-time research professor in chemical engineering; J. P. Mahaney, research instructor in mechanical engineering; C. F. DeLaBarre, research fellow in heating and plumbing; C. M. Cockrell, research fellow in mechanical engineering; R. C. Wray, research fellow in civil engineering.

The following were engaged in research on station projects, but without compensation from the appropriation for the station:

Professors Rasche, Barlow, Holden, Watson, Robeson, Seitz, Whittemore, Hussey, Lodewick, Lucas, Jones, Sette, Riffenburg, Ryman, Addlestone, Conner and Scherer; Miss Russell, Mr. Dear and Mr. McGavock.

A considerable amount of work has been done upon the following projects:

The Effect of Storage on Hydrated Lime, Project No.6, by R. J. Holden and R. C. Wray.

An Investigation of Building Stone of Virginia, Project No. 16, by R. J. Holden and R. C. Wray.

The Re-Classification of Virginia Coals, Project No. 22, by F. H. Fish and J. A. Addlestone.

The Chemical Control of Imhoff Tanks, Project No. 24, by F. H. Fish.

The Behavior of Materials Under Impact, Project No. 28, by N. W. Conner.

The Effect of Cold-Working of Ductile Materials, Project No. 33, by E. B. Norris and C. M. Cockrell.

The Coking of Semi-Anthracite Coal of Virginia, Project No. 34, by F. H. Fish.

Clays of Virginia, Project No. 35, by J. W. Whittemore and P. S. Dear.

Thermo-Electric Properties of Beryllium, Project No. 37, by F. L. Robeson and J. F. Ryman.

Thermo-Electric Properties of Silicon-Copper Alloys, Project No. 38, by W. E. Barlow and J. F. Ryman.

Tests of Protective Coatings for Wood, Project No. 41, by J. E. Lodewick and C. M. Cockrell.

The Effect of Impregnation with Glue on the Strength of Timber, Project No. 42, by J. E. Lodewick and C. M. Cockrell.

Properties of Alloys, Project No. 43, by W. E. Barlow.

Properties of Filtration Sands, Project No. 45, by F. J. Sette.

A Study of the Plumbing and Heating Codes of Virginia, Project No. 47. by C. F. DeLaBarre.

Limnological Study of the Pulaski Reservoir, Project No. 48, by F. J. Sette.

The Design of Close-Wound Helical Springs, Project No. 49, by J. P; Mahaney.

The Relativity of Energy. Project No. 50, by J. S. A. Johnson.

It is evident that a considerable amount of interest is being exhibited in the work of the Engineering Experiment Station by several of the departments.

One bulletin was published during the year, entitled: Physical Properties of Common and Face Brick Manufactured in Virginia, by John W. Whittemore, professor of ceramic engineering, and Paul S. Dear, instructor in ceramic engineering. This makes the sixth bulletin issued by the station. It was published in March, 1930, as Bulletin of V. P. I., Vol. XXIII, No.6.

The importance of much of the work lies in its general scientific value, while some of it is directed towards the development of industry in Virginia. It is possible that the ultimate value to the state of the results of scientific research might be greater than that of the specialized engineering or industrial research pertaining to a given industry. For this reason all forms of research are encouraged by the station, although the principal object of the station is to assist the industries of the state in the solution of their problems. important function of the station also is to discover and solve hitherto unknown problems, thereby possibly leading to new industries and the more rapid development of existing ones.

Some cooperation has been effected between the station and the department of agricultural engineering, but no important results have been obtained. There appears to be, however, an important work in common between the agricultural engineering department and the Engineering Experiment Station, and an effort is being made to effect a closer coordination.

Respectfully submitted,

J. S. A. Johnson, Director.