An investigation on aging of multifilamentary 2223-BSCCO specimens under mechanical and environmental stresses

The effect of mechanical, thermal, and environmental stresses on specimens of multifilamentary 2223-BSCCO tapes, fabricated by the powder-in-tube technology, is discussed in this paper. Short-term and long-term (aging) tests were performed for the purpose of evaluating the strength and endurance of the specimens under compression, tensile, and vibration stresses and In combinations or temperature and humidity. The diagnostic properties employed to evaluate material behavior and degradation are critical current and quantities associated with hysteresis loops. It is shown how mechanical stresses can affect specimen performance in light of application to cables for energy transport. In particular, the endurance lines under tensile and vibration stresses are drawn, achieving indexes useful for evaluation of superconducting tapes and cable design.