252 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE, ETC. 
STRESSES IN OVERSTRAINED MATERIALS. 
Interim Report of Committee on Stresses in Overstrained Materials (Sir 
Henry Fow ter, K.B.E., Chairman ; Dr. J. G. Docuerty, Secretary ; 
Prof. G. Cook, Prof. B. P. Haicu, Mr. J. S. Witson). 
THE Committee finds that the programme of investigation outlined in 
previous reports has proceeded more slowly than was anticipated, and no 
extended report is possible this year. Prof. Cook has published a paper 
on ‘ The Stresses in Thick-walled Cylinders of Mild Steel overstrained 
by Internal Pressure ’ in the Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical 
Engineers, and Prof. Haigh is presenting to Section G a paper recom- 
mending the more general specification and use in design of the Lower 
Yield Point of mild steel, which bears directly on the work of the Com- 
mittee. This is not put forward as a report, but will be referred to when, 
as is hoped, the Committee presents a full report next year. 
The Committee asks to be reappointed for another year. 
THE REDUCTION OF NOISE. 
Report of Committee, with terms of reference stated below (Sir HENRY 
Fow.er, K.B.E., Chairman; Wing-Commander T, R. Cave- 
BRowWNE-CaveE, C.B.E., Secretary; Mr. R. S. Capon, Dr. A. H. 
Davis, Prof. G. W. O. Hows, Mr. E. S. SHRaPNELL-SMITH, C.B.E.). 
THE Committee was set up to review the knowledge at present available for 
the reduction of noise and the nuisances to the abatement of which this 
knowledge could best be applied. 
Sir Henry Fowler, K.B.E., was appointed Chairman, Wing-Commander 
Cave-Browne-Cave, C.B.E., Hon. Secretary, Mr. Capon and Prof. Howe 
were appointed members, and to these Dr. Davis and Mr. Shrapnell-Smith 
were added later. 
A grant of {10 was made to cover correspondence, and at the beginning 
of May 1934, the Association, finding that there was a balance of £24 out- 
standing in one of their other accounts, allotted it to the work which was 
being done for the Committee on the reduction of exhaust noise. 
The Chairman wrote to The Times on September 30, 1933, inviting 
reasoned opinions from members of the public as to the noises which caused 
them most discomfort and inconvenience. 
A very large number of replies to that letter were received and analysed. 
They led definitely to the conclusion that the sources which caused most 
annoyance and inconvenience were inadequately silenced motor bicycles 
and cars, then motor horns, other road transport noises, and finally aircraft. 
No other noise caused half the complaint levelled against the last of this 
first group (aircraft). 
The Committee realised that the Air Ministry was doing everything 
possible to reduce the noise of aircraft as heard by passengers and also by 
persons on the ground. 
The Committee, therefore, decided first to devote their attention to the 
general problem of exhaust noise of motor bicycles and sports cars. They 
also decided to invite Messrs. Lucas, a firm who make a great variety of 
