Abstract
High field superconductors are critical to the success of next step magnetic fusion confinement devices such as ITER and DEMO. The low-temperature superconducting material that is currently favored for these applications, Nb3Sn, is susceptible to performance due to its brittleness and high strain-sensitivity. Under extreme loads, an irreversible degradation in the maximum critical current density has been shown to occur and believed to be strongly influenced by two factors: plasticity and cracked filaments. Cracks in filaments are induced when sufficiently high stress concentrations occur in the wire. In this paper, we explore using finite element analysis the impact that voids have on the stress distributions and peak stresses under two loading conditions: transverse compressive loading in a 2D model, and a full cool down phase in a 3D model.
| Original language | American English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 434-438 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Fusion Science and Technology |
| Volume | 72 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 2017 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Civil and Structural Engineering
- Nuclear and High Energy Physics
- Nuclear Energy and Engineering
- General Materials Science
- Mechanical Engineering
Keywords
- Finite-element analysis
- NbSn superconducting wires
- Thermal pre-stress
- Void-induced stress concentrations