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Abstract: Nb3Sn
superconducting wire is currently in use in the Toroidal Field (TF) and Central Solenoid
(CS) coils of the ITER fusion machine because of its ability to remain in the
superconducting state at the high magnetic fields required to confine a plasma. However,
this conductor is sensitive to strain, which degrades its electromagnetic performance.
In the past 15 years, a lot of research ... read morehas been focusing on the understanding of the
mechanisms behind the degradations due to bending, transverse, and axial strains. This
thesis work focused on the design, fabrication and preliminary functionally tests of a
mechanical system to apply transverse load on a 3-strand Nb3Sn cable. The design of a
completely new loading mechanism has been developed to apply transverse load to the
3-strand cable and the device has been fabricated. The mechanism is designed so that a
load cell and an extensometer are used to record vertical load and displacement
respectively. This information is used to evaluate the transverse load applied to the
sample. The mechanism allows an overall transverse deformation of the cable from a 1.78
mm to a 1.16 mm diameter. The mechanism is designed to sustain and react transverse
forces up to 60 kN on a cable length of ~215 mm. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was
performed using Solidworks Simulation to confirm the structural integrity of the
mechanism and preliminary tests were performed to verify the operational functionality
of the device.
Thesis (M.S.)--Tufts University,
2012.
Submitted to the Dept. of Mechanical
Engineering.
Advisor: Luisa
Chiesa.
Committee: Douglas Matson, and Makoto
Takayasu.
Keyword: Mechanical
engineering.read less
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