Abstract:
A15 superconducting Nb
3Sn has shown great promise for applications in the international thermonuclear experimental reactor, and high energy physics. In these high field applications, the stress/strain arises from the cool-down and operation process of the superconducting magnet, inducing the performance degradation of the Nb
3Sn cable-in-conduit conductors, which is a critical issue in the superconductivity applications and developments. Due to the complex multi-scale structure of Nb
3Sn composite, the electromechanical coupling responses at different scales are intrinsically interrelated. On the basis of the micro-meso-macro frame analysis, this paper intends to study the effects of strain induced variations of the characteristic parameters of material microstructure on the superconducting properties of Nb
3Sn and establish the constitutive model which accounts for the multiscale coupling in strained Nb
3Sn. A framework for micro-to-macro transitions for multi-scale analysis of multifilamentary superconducting composites is developed. Using this model, we respectively predict the critical properties degradation responses of Nb
3Sn polycrystal under hydrostatic pressure and Nb
3Sn composite under axial loading, the predicted results are in qualitative agreement with the experimental observations.. This study reveals the multiscale coupling mechanism of electromechanical effects in Nb
3Sn high-field superconducting composite.With the aid of the study, the multiscale features in electromechanical coupling behavior in Nb based A15-type compounds are identified. The study will promote the material engineering application process, and the results of which are promising to engineer optimized large-scale superconducting high magnetic field systems. It is helpful to improve the understanding and description of the strain sensitivity of Nb
3Sn, and to provide a solid theoretical support for the manufacture of high-field superconducting magnets. The developed simulation model provides a basis for the detailed description of strain effects on the superconducting properties of Nb
3Sn. Furthermore, the developed multiscale model lays foundation for understanding the empirical relation given by the experiment and opens the way for the parameterization of the strain effects on the superconducting Nb
3Sn.