Thermal cycling, critical current vs. strain, and finite element modelling of 1, 7, 19 and 37 filament Ag/Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O (BSCCO) tapes

Abstract

Transport critical current, I/sub c/, distribution measurements, thermal cycling experiments and critical current vs. strain (I/sub c/ vs. /spl epsiv/) experiments were carried out on silver clad 1, 7, 19 and 37 filament Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O (BSCCO) tapes. The transport critical current distribution of silver clad Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O tapes are measured using a measurement system capable of making 10 /spl mu/m steps along 120 mm long tapes. The tapes are subjected to thermal cycling and repeat measurements of the I/sub c/ are made. The critical current vs. strain experiments are carried out by centre point loading of the tapes. Elastic-Plastic Finite Element Modelling (FEM) of a monocore tape is carried out. Our analyses show the variation of the transverse stress, /spl sigma//sub yy/, across the width of the tape.