Publications

The Primary Standards Laboratory (PSL) operates a system-wide primary standards and calibration program for the US Department of Energy, Albuquerque Operations Office (DOE/AL). The PSL mission is as follows: to develop and maintain primary standards; to calibrate electrical, physical, and radiation reference standards for customer laboratories (DOE/Al integrated contractors); to conduct technical surveys and audits of these laboratories; and to recommend and implement system-wide improvements. This report summarizes activities of the PSL for the second half of 1990 and provides information pertinent to the operation of the DOE/AL Standards and Calibration Program. Specific areas covered include development projects, improvement projects, calibration and special measurements, surveys and audits, and significant events. Activities in these areas have been at a lower than normal level because of response to increased Environment, Safety, and Health (ES H) concerns and preparation for a Tiger Team visit. Appendices include certifications and reports, commercial calibration laboratories, PSL memoranda, and National Institute of Standards and Technology ((NIST)--formerly the National Bureau of Standards (NBS)) test numbers.

A new facility is being constructed for the Primary Standards Laboratory at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Salient features of the final design, described briefly in this paper, follow the conceptual design of 1984 to a fairly high degree. Because the facility is in process of construction, this paper is a progress report. 6 refs., 2 figs., 1 tab.

Mass measurements may be greatly enhanced by an understanding of the operation of balances, the effects of buoyancy, practices encountered in weighing and the impacts and meanings of revelant mass standards. Beginning with the basic forces acting on weights, the equations brought to equality in balances are developed. These give explanation of the weighing process and an appreciation for some balance characteristics. The requirements of relevant mass standards are also reviewed. Recommendations are made for operation of practical mass calibration. An appendix is attached which gives computation examples using apparent mass'' and also gives a method for determining the density of mass artifacts or unknown materials. 2 tabs.