BENDING EFFECTS ON CRITICAL CURRENTS OF
Nb₃Sn SUPERCONDUCTING WIRES

M. Takayasu¹, L. Chiesa², J. H. Schultz¹, and J. V. Minervini¹

¹Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
²Tufts University Medford, MA, 02155, USA

ABSTRACT - Bending effects on Nb₃Sn wires have been investigated to understand the critical current degradation of large Nb₃Sn superconducting cables. An integrated model taking into accounts the neutral axis shift, the current transfer length, the mechanical filament breakage and the uniaxial strain release due to applying bending has been developed. Five different Nb₃Sn wires, developed by the ITER parties, were tested. The experimental data are presented and analyzed with a newly developed integrated model. The current transfer effect shows to be an important factor.

KEYWORDS: Bending strain, neutral axis shift, current transfer, filament breakage, Nb3Sn superconductor.

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IEEE/CSC & ESAS EUROPEAN SUPERCONDUCTIVITY NEWS FORUM (ESNF), No. 10, October 2009
On June 29, 2009, this manuscript was submitted for possible publication in “Advances of Cryogenic Engineering (Materials)"