Numerical Study on Mechanical Properties of Conductors on Round Core Cables

The unique structure of conductors on round core (CORC) cable leads to symmetrical electromagnetic properties and excellent mechanical performance. However, it is quite a big challenge to analyze the mechanical properties of CORC cables, due to the unpredictable initial residual stress generated during the fabrication process of both tape and cable. In this paper, the mechanical model of CORC cable consists of several individual models representing the tape fabrication, cable fabrication, CORC cable bending and cooling process. The numerical model is verified by experimental results of both superconducting tapes and CORC cables. On basis of this, the numerical model is used to explain the mechanism of performance degradation during bending process. Moreover, the effects of winding angle on critical bending diameter are analyzed from the aspect of critical current degradation and physical extrusion. And simulation results are used to determine the principle critical bending diameter of CORC cable. Conclusions in this paper can be useful for design of CORC cables in applications where small bending diameter is needed.