Design of HTS tape characteristics measurement system

High temperature superconductor (HTS) tapes are now commercially available for practical applications to apply various purposes. However HTS tapes show different electrical and mechanical characteristics, according to the manufacturers who are trying to apply various fabrication processes and treatments. From the viewpoint of an application, it is very important to investigate the properties of HTS tapes under mechanical stress, because the tapes will be wound with twisting and tension in applications such as magnets and cables. Considering of operating situations of applications, HTS tapes might be influenced not only mechanical deformation but also electromagnetic effects. Thus, we developed an equipment to measure the characteristics of HTS tapes, considering of these mechanical and electromagnetic conditions. This system can be used to measure the critical current and the AC loss in magnetic field with tension and twisting. A description of the design and some typical results are presented with discussions.