Delamination behaviors of GdBCO CC tapes under different transverse loading conditions

Abstract

In superconducting coil applications particularly in wet wound coils, coated conductor (CC) tapes are subjected to different type of stresses. These include hoop stress acting along the length of the CC tape and the Lorentz force acting perpendicular to the CC tape's surface. Since the latter is commonly associated with delamination problem of multi-layered CC tapes, more understanding and attention on the delamination phenomena induced in the case of coil applications are needed. Difference on the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of each constituent layer of the CC tape, the bobbin, and the impregnating materials is the main causes of delamination in CC tapes when subjected to thermal cycling. The CC tape might also experience cyclic loading due to the energizing scheme (on - off) during operation. In the design of degradation-free superconducting coils, therefore, characterization of the delamination behaviors including mechanism and strength in REBCO CC tapes becomes critical. In this study, transverse tensile tests were conducted under different loading conditions using different size of upper anvils on the GdBCO CC tapes. The mechanical and electromechanical delamination strength behaviors of the CC tapes under transverse tensile loading were examined and a two-parameter Weibull distribution analysis was conducted in statistical aspects. As a result, the CC tape showed similar range of mechanical delamination strength regardless of cross-head speed adopted. On the other hand, cyclic loading might have affected the CC tape in both upper anvil sizes adopted.