Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000500160001-1 Pry s Oy ee Tho, oe 4 Ls Mindire die « . 3 ‘ vate er) © 4 ar x ? b) 9 ct OW nA oS yun ie) fo} co Oo 4 oO-H Wow nO | ATT ONS 160 GgaO ie) May pou OM G (0) +S) dw yp OHS 10 Te aad ia] Ge nop GEY Dyed co OO, nO) DG oun v WW “d O AH -d O-nd Edd OHO yok Nn Or l@ Aran Asos mao Sed OFA 4 ay +or~o od. 2 Ops o OS OW Ged ge? 8a du fos] wa3s G4 Oed 1 uy oy Gouys AOH Oo Gi ST HU Ue Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP9600787R000500160004-1
83 Sis.8 alge: a) Specimen 11-1, test with J, P. Girard, face 1, a, We ae ¢) Specimen for simulation by shot-peening, ad) Specimen for simulation by compression with the press. FIG. 10 Electron photomicrographs of modified surface zones, at mag- nification 64,500 (before reduction). For this it would be necessary to bend the specimen very strongly until a radius of curvature of 50 mm was attained (corresponding to a deformation on the order of 30 mm, which 32 Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000500160001-1
Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000500160001-1 is incompatible with the observations made) , and then to re- store it by a deformation in the inverse direction. However, this simulation did not permit us to reproduce. the structural state observed in the specimens modified by J. P. Girard. In fact, electron microscopy of the hardened zones revealed tangles of dislocations, but not the signifi- cant increase in the number of dislocation loops. COMPRESSION TEST WITH THE PRESS A local compression test of the refererce plate 11-U was carried out with the press under 300 MPa (o e = 220 MPa). This permitted us to obtain hardening of the surfaces in contact with the stamper and with the table, with values close to that desired (A HV = 140 MPa). The microstructure was similar to that observed in the modified specimens (Figure 10d), but had a lower density of loops. However, we observed a 13% decrease of thickness anda uniform modification in the cross section of the structure and in the hardness, which was not the case for the specimens "hardened" by J. P. Girard. However, meas- urements of the thickness of plate 11-J revealed a reduction in thickness on the order of 2%, perpendicularly through the modified zone. SHOT-PEENING TEST A test involving surface shot-peening of the two opposite 33 Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000500160001-1
Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000500160001-1 “ faces of reference specimen 11-M* permitted us to simulate the essential features of the points which.we were trying to re- produce: surface hardening A HV of 70 MPa, absence of per- manent deformation, similar microstructure (heterogeneous in the thickness, with maximum density of the dislocation loops close to the surfaces). By this method, however, we obtained a dull surface with a very different appearance from that of the specimens modified by J. P. Girard, and it was necessary to perform supplementary polishing to return to a comparable surface condition. The set of observations and simulations showed that it would be necessary to exert a compression force on the plates normal to the surface, creating a heterogeneous plastic defor- mation through the section to reproduce the essential features of the physical peculiarities observed in the metal plates hardened locally and superficially by J. P. Girard. The mechanical energy required to simulate such a modification can be estimated from the test of simulation by compression: 1.6 J. We can also produce loops of this type by neutron irradia- tion. * Operating conditions: Matrasur machine; air pressure 7 bars; capacity 0.85 > /mmn; glass balls (diameter 75 to 110 microns) ; duration 1 min. Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000500160001-1
Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000500160001-1 NS Conclusion The group of observations on the duralumin plates sub- mitted to J. P. Girard permits us to state: ~ that the required hardening was achieved four times during the test; - that no simple metallurgical operation known to the authors permits us exactly to reproduce the different physical peculiarities observed in the locally hardened zones. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION In this article we have described a certain number of deformations and transformations of metals under particular conditions. The places where these tests were performed, and the persons who observed them were varied. The only constant presence, common to all these tests, was that of J. P. Girard himself. Thus there was a correlation between his presence and the appearance of the particular effects observed. It therefore seems that we have the right to say that J. P. Girard was part of the "cause" of these effects. However, during these deformations or transformations, we neither ob- served nor recorded any use of muscular forces or of physical effects on his part capable of producing such phenomena. 35 ; Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000500160001-1
Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000500160001-1 It therefore seems that we can accept the "abnormal" character of these effects, particularly if-we take the fol- lowing observations into account: - for one of the deformed specimens (see "Session of October 27, 1976"), the precautions taken to mark it and follow its de formation by tracing successive profiles are such as to prove that there was no substitution. The very high resist- ance of this specimen seems sufficient to preclude any ex- planation by a purely manual and muscular action; 3 - for the other specimen deformed in a glass tube (Ses- sion of March 31, 1976), the described method of operation seems to establish that the deformation, although slight, is quite distinct and was produced while the specimen was in the. tube; ~ for the cases of local transformation of structure, by martensitic transformation ("Tests on stainless steel in closed tubes") or by creation of numerous small dislocation loops ("Local modifications in hardness of metal plates"), the described precautions show that substitution did not occur. The production of these effects in a tube or with light con- tact rules out any "normal" explanation. Even if substitution had occurred, it would be necessary to note that we were com pletely unable to reproduce all the physical peculiarities of the transformed pieces, nor could we conceive of any simple metallurgical Operation capable of doing so. Our simulation tests actually did permit us to reproduce the new structural 36 Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000500160001-1
Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000500160001-1 Many phenomena are rejected by the learned world because they are regarded as irrational. However, it does not prove scientific honesty to refuse a priori to try and observe these phenomena and monitor them in isolation, in the search for truth. | Several scientific personalities did not hesitate to participate in the experiments of J. P. Girard, simply to "see" them objectively. I personally had this opportunity, and I have sometimes been troubled by these experiments which, as one of us has said, put us physicists in a very uncomfort— able situation. Of all these experiments, most of which were recorded on film, with a considerable Luxury of’ controls, only those which form the subject of this article were kept by C. Crussard and J. Bouvaist. Until proof to the contrary, it has not been possible to give a rational explanation of the transformations observed and described -- although naturally this does not mean that such an explanation will not be found in the future. It appeared interesting to the authors of the article to publish their observations, knowing well that they would be faced with fairly general scepticism -- but their decision should be regarded as no more than the desire to obtain infor- mation on phenomena which are obviously inexplicable at the present state of our knowledge. For my own part, I agreed to add these few lines ~- having had the opportunity to follow these experiments quite closely 39 Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000500160001-1
‘ Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000500160001-1 . ~~ simply to give my guarantee of the scientific rigor with which they were carried out by the authors. Too many factors are still undetermined for it to be possible to give a valid interpretation of the results. | J. J. Trillat, Member of the Academy of Sciences. 40 Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000500160001-1