From Short Sample to Coil DC Superconductor Performance: ITER Central Solenoid Model Coil (CSMC) vs. Good Joint (GJ) Sample.

The problem of how representative a short Nb3Sn conductor sample is for simulating conductor-in-coil conditions in the ITER magnets is addressed here by considering the particular case of the Central Solenoid Model Coil (CSMC), tested in 2001-2003 at JAERI Naka, Japan, and its associated Good Joint IGJ) sample (tested in 1999 in the SULTAN facility). While the basic thermal-hydraulic conditions are interpreted from experimental data by the M&M code, the sensitivity of the voltage-temperature characteristics to mechanical effects (due to the strain sensitivity of the Nb3Sn) is investigated by analysis. The results are used to assess the errors to be expected in predicting coil performance from measurements made on conductor samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]