Dissipative Energies of Epoxy Cracking in Superconducting Magnets

Epoxy cracking in epoxy-impregnated superconducting magnets is caused by transverse shear stresses created by Lorentz forces. The dissipative energy of cracking can induce premature quenches in these magnets. Dissipative crack energies have been measured in a test coil; the maximum energy measured in the test coil was ~2 mJ.