Finite Element Analysis of $\hbox {Nb}_{3}\hbox {Sn}$ Sub-Cables Under Transverse Compression With Different Approaches

Currently, very few experimental results describing the behavior of Nb₃Sn subcables under transverse load are available. Those results are of importance for predicting how a full-sized cable-in-conduit conductor behaves during operations. Current experimental devices used to study the effect of transverse load on the electrical performance of cables utilize concave plates to apply mechanical loads and contain the sample and subject it to mechanical loads that mimic the electromagnetic loads of full-sized cables during operation. From finite element analysis, it is found that the strain state in the strands of a triplet is greatly affected by the shape of the pressing element contact surface. We will discuss the strain state within the strands from the simulations using two pressing configurations: concave and flat plates. The strain state in each strand in a twisted triplet is investigated by considering two cross-sections of a triplet along the length of the cable. Those results can provide useful information on the electrical performance of each strand based on its location along the axis. It is verified that the load distribution is very different depending on the shape of the pressing plates.