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Thermonuclear neutron-capture approaches to heavy transuranium element synthesis are investigated. Certain feature of capture experiments using thermonuclear macro-explosives are re-analyzed in view of recent results of nuclear shell-structure theory and theoretical developments in laser-energized fusion micro-explosions. The micro-explosion conditions for prompt multiple neutron capture are estimated for the simplest moderation techniques. We speculate on some practical neutor-capture paths to the superheavy island, especially a hybrid approach, using both macro-and micro-explosion events.

Two general quadrilateral elements for plate bending are developed. Each has 12 degrees of freedom and accounts for transverse shear deformation effects. Each is built from four triangular elements whose properties are derived by the assumed-stress hybrid approach. Matrices needed to generate the stiffness properties of the triangular elements are explicitly stated so as to facilitate their use. Numerical test cases, in which shear deformation effects range from negligible to very important, are used to illustrate the behaviour of the elements. It is concluded that the simpler of the two quadrilaterals is one of the best plate elements currently available.

Digital adaptive null-steering techniques are extended to RF antenna arrays by a hybrid approach in which the sampling rate is governed by the processor speed rather than by the signal frequencies involved. Numerical results obtained by computer simulation are presented to demonstrate the feasibility of the concept.

A mesh approach is developed for the formulation of the network equations in load-flow analysis. It is shown to converge at least as fast as the usual methods using the nodal-impedance matrix. A hybrid approach is then developed, using a combination of an impedance-matrix method and a nodal-admittance-matrix method. The hybrid exhibits very fast convergence, and is the most powerful method encountered by the authors. It needs no optimum acceleration, and the number of iterations appear to be independent of system size and configuration. Finally, an investigation into the choice of an optimum swing/reference bus produced the only reliable criterion known to the authors.