As time passes more and more knowledge of the flow of fluids past bodies accumulates and of this increase some becomes applied to the problems of the day. Boundary layer theory is being applied at the present time to the problem of the degree of polish which should be given to a wing in order to reduce its profile drag to a minimum. Tests in the compressed air tunnel at the National Physical Laboratory and in flight at Cambridge and Farnborough have recently been directed to this point and give quantitative assurance of the correctness of theory. In what follows, a survey is made of a group of theorems relating to the resistance of various bodies such as aerofoils and flat plates and more generally to streamline forms. The theorems are partly physical and partly mathematical and approximations are numerous and of very different degrees of validity.

The strengths of the metals at present available to industry are of especial importance to the aeronautical engineer who is also in a position to appreciate the need for greatly improved materials, the absence of which often places restriction on much needed developments. Although the materials of the future may become available by the somewhat fortuitous development methods at present employed, it is undeniable that greatly accelerated developments would result if a correct understanding was obtained of the fundamental characteristics of the cohesion and fracture of metals, of which the former belongs to the field of the atomic physicist.

It has been found possible, for the first time, to show that failure under static and fatigue stressing is associated with changes in the crystalline structure which are identical. These changes are (1) a dislocation of the initially perfect grains into large components which vary in orientation from that of the internal grain by amounts up to about 2°,(2) the formation of “crystallites,” approximately 10-4 to 10-5 cm. in size, whose orientation varies widely from that of the original grains, and (3) the presence of severe internal stresses in the crystallites. At fracture, whatever the type of applied stressing, the whole of the specimen behaves to the X-ray beam as a medium of crystallites showing marked lattice distortion and oriented completely at random. X-ray diffraction methods are shown to distinguish clearly between the effects of the application of safe and unsafe ranges of stress; the first method that has been successful in this respect.

In order to show the relationship between the new work described and previous work dealing with the use of X-rays in studying the deformation characteristics of metals, a preliminary section of the paper deals with cold-rolling and drawing. A survey is also presented of the present position regarding strength and atomic structure, together with references to various theories regarding the imperfections of crystals as encountered in practice. An introductory section describes briefly the atomic structure of metals, as revealed by X-rays.

The modern internal combustion engine, particularly the power unit developed for aircraft propulsion, provides a subject of great metallurgical interest and speculation.

The requirements of the aero engine designer for greater engine power while retaining a low weight/power ratio has inspired research into fuels of improved characteristics, and on the metallurgical side into materials of superior properties to those previously available.