Speaker
Description
CORC® ReBCO cables show great potential as conductors for the next generation of high-performance cables in high-field accelerator magnets. However, due to the unavoidable mechanical stresses present in high-field magnet applications, it is important to investigate the deformation and damage these cables sustain under significant transverse compressive stresses. Our previous study demonstrated that support conditions, such as side-support plates and epoxy impregnation, can increase the threshold for elastic-plastic deformation. However, we did not evaluate these effects at cryogenic temperatures, nor did we measure the critical current (Ic) degradation due to the compression under different support conditions. In this study, we developed a cryogenic fixture compatible with our material testing system (MTS) to evaluate samples at cryogenic temperatures (liquid nitrogen) while simultaneously measuring their electrical properties. Our goal is to visualize the deformation that caused the Ic degradation. Five CORC samples with different compression levels were prepared for Ic measurement: i) as received; ii) 25% of its elastic-plastic transition load; iii) 50%; iv) 75%; v)100% of its elastic-plastic transition load. Then, Micro-CT images were taken to characterize the deformation due to the compression. Throughout, we collected compression stress data, critical current value, and Micro-CT images to comprehensively analyze the progression of deformation and Ic degradation. The results characterized the relationship between deformation and Ic degradation because of the cleavage stress between tapes.This study is funded by DOE.
