Colloquia

Samenvatting

The operation of tokamak-type fusion devices at high magnetic fields (up to 20T) relies on High-Temperature Superconductors (HTS). ReBCO Cable-In-Conduit Conductors (CICC), based on Conductors On Round Core (CORC®) cables, are a promising solution for this application. However, the intense Lorentz forces generated in these environments induce mechanical stresses that might lead to irreversible degradation of the critical current and alter the contact resistance between the tapes. This thesis investigates these challenges through experimental and numerical approaches.

To simulate the Lorentz forces, transverse loading tests were conducted on CORC® cable samples. These tests produced valuable data on critical current, n-values, and contact resistances under load and after cyclic loading.

Furthermore, the thesis examines the influence of winding geometry, specifically winding angle and core diameter, on the critical current of helically wound ReBCO tapes. Experimental studies were conducted to quantify how variations in winding parameters affect the tapes' anisotropic properties, with the aim of optimizing cable designs. These experiments were modelled in Abaqus to examine the strain within the ReBCO layer.