Experimental Evaluation of Vertically Versus Horizontally Split Yokes for SSC Dipole Magnets

The yoke in SSC dipole magnets provides mechanical support to the collared coil as well as serving as a magnetic element. The yoke and skin are used to increase the coil prestress and reduce collar deflections under excitation. Yokes split on the vertical or horizontal mid-plane offer different advantages in meeting these objectives. To evaluate the relative merits of the two configuration a 1.8 m model dipole was assembled and tested first with horizontally split and then with vertically split yoke laminations. The magnet was extensively instrumented to measure azimuthal and axial stresses in the coil and the cold mass skin resulting from cooldown and excitation. Mechanical behavior of this magnet with each configuration is compared with that of other long and short models and with calculations.