A device to test critical current sensitivity of Nb[sub 3]Sn cables to pressure

Testing the critical current of superconducting cables under compression is a means to assess the performance of the final magnet. However, these cable tests are complicated and expensive. A fixture to assess the superconducting performance of a Nb3Sn strand within a reacted and impregnated cable under compression was designed and built. It is currently being commissioned. This device was designed to operate in liquid helium at 4.2 K and in high magnetic fields. A cable sample is compressed between two plates. A hydraulic cylinder mounted on the top flange allows applying a pressure up to 200 MPa to the cable sample. The copper current leads to the sample were designed to carry 2000 A. This paper illustrates the fixture assembly, describes the analyses performed, details the cable sample preparation, and shows preliminary test results.