An approach to deduce quench fields of superconducting magnets from model coils testings

Unpredictability of quench fields caused by pulsed mechanical disturbances presents a serious obstacle for wider utilization of SC magnets especially if it is impossible or too expensive to make them cryogenically stabilized. Almost nothing is known concerning the energy dissipation associated with jump-like mechanical events. However it is natural to assume that for a given stress distribution the energy release is proportional to the density of elastic energy. The stress distribution can be reproduced in a smaller winding geometrically similar to that under designing. Testing of the model winding of a reasonable size provided it is made of a “similar” wire and with the same technology can give a quantitative information of quench behavior of a large winding being developed. The details of such procedure are given in the paper. The procedure is based on the comparison of the intersection points of the curves of released and critical energies vs field or operating current