Measurements and Modeling of Mechanical Properties of Nb3Sn Strands, Cables, and Coils

High-field Nb
₃
Sn magnets for the next generation of hadron colliders are known to have long trainings and to be limited at 90% of their short sample limit at best. This means that the conductor current is at 60% or less of its critical value. Homogeneous finite-element models are typically used for the complex system that includes coils, wedges, poles, yoke, rods, keys, shoes, fillers, shell, etc. Through both modeling and measurements of mechanical properties, we show how a more accurate sub-modeling of the composite structure allows for a better understanding of the stress and strain distributions. This is extremely important for Nb3Sn performance since state-of-the-art high critical current wires of this superconductor are particularly sensitive to strain.