Structural behavior of cable superconductors

The structural properties of cable superconductor coils, for particle accelerators such as the Tevatron and the CBA (Colliding Beam Accelerator), depend upon direction of loading. For compression perpendicular to the "flat faces" of the conductor, the coils exhibit nonlinear, inelastic and time dependent behavior. The same is true for "inplane" compression loading perpendicular to the conductor edges. In the lengthwise direction, the coils display tension and compression stress-strain curves typical of structural metals. The loading of primary concern is compression perpendicular to the conductor faces since deformations in that direction can have a major influence on magnetic field quality. However, the coil behavior under that condition is uncertain because of the nonlinear stress-strain curve complicated by creep and relaxation at the stress levels induced by preloading and Lorentz forces. Furthermore, the stiffness of the loading fixture appears to influence the data as shown by results from tests run under different conditions at Berkeley, Brookhaven and MIT. The paper displays test data on stress-strain curves for all three loading directions. Results are presented for RT, 77 K and 4 K behavior. Data of various investigators are compared. The applicability of a relatively simple power law between stress and strain is depicted.