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Fundamental stress versus strain measurements were completed on superconducting Nb 3 Sn wires within the framework of IEC/TC90 and VAMAS/TWA16. A key task was the assessment of sensing systems regarding resolution, accuracy, and precision when measuring Young's modulus. Prior to actual Nb 3 Sn wire measurements metallic wires, consisting of copper and stainless steel having diameters similar to the Nb 3 Sn wire, were extensively investigated with respect to their elastic line properties using different types of extensometers. After these calibration tests Nb 3 Sn wire measurements of different companies resulted in several important facts with respect to total size and weight of the used extensometers. The size could be correlated to the initial stage of stress versus strain behaviour. In fact, the effect of wire curls resulting from the production line had a profound effect on Young's modulus measurements. Within this context, the possibility of determining Young's modulus from unloading compliance lines in the plastic regime of the stress-strain curve was considered. The data obtained using this test methodology were discussed under consideration of the composite nature of Nb 3 Sn wire. In addition, a non-contacting sensing system based on a double-beam laser extensometer was used to investigate the potential of this new sensing system.

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Within the framework of IEC/TC90-WG5 and VAMAS/TWA16, superconducting (SC) materials are investigated with respect to their mechanical properties between 300 K and 7 K. Besides the mechanical tests, physical and electrical properties are also determined for high Tc SC-tapes. The mechanical tests comprised the characterization of tensile properties at ambient temperature as well as at 7 K of Nb3Sn-reacted strands, Bi2223 tapes, pure silver tapes, silver bars, silver alloy tapes and bare filaments extracted from Bi-2223 tapes. All these investigations are carried out using a variable temperature helium gas flow cryostat equipped with a servo hydraulic tensile machine (MTS, model 810). For the load measurements specially developed, highly sensitive cryogenic proof in situ working load cells are used. For the strain determination of the wires, a high resolution ultra-light double extensometer system with a specially developed low noise signal conditioner is used. The engineering parameters such as yield strength and elastic modulus are evaluated using the obtained data with newly developed software. For the tiny and brittle filaments load versus displacement data are obtained. A determined master line (Young's modulus versus machine compliance) established by thin 0.125 mm Ø wires of different pure metals is used for the Young's modulus estimation of filaments. For the 4 K electrical voltage–current measurements under magnetic fields of up to 13 T, an existing test facility is used for the high Tc tapes. No dependency between applied strain up to 0.3% and the critical current under magnetic field could be observed for the selected specific Bi-2223 tapes. In addition, thermal expansion curves of Bi-2223 tapes along with pure silver and silver alloy (AgMg) are determined between 290 K and 7 K using in situ working extensometers. The coefficient of thermal expansion is evaluated by the determined thermal expansion versus temperature curve.

The evaluation of the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of each constituent in Bi2223 composite tape is essential since the thermal residual strain exerted on Bi2223 during cooling from annealing temperature gives the important effect on the strain endurance of critical current (Ic). In the present study, the thermal expansion of Ag, Ag alloy and the composite tapes was measured during heating from 7 K to RT by means of Nyilas type extensometers. Mechanical properties of Ag and Ag alloy such as Young's modulus and yield stress were measured at RT and 7 K because they are also necessary for the analysis based on the rule of mixture. Comparing the measured thermal expansion of Ag tape with the reference data of Ag bulk, it is confirmed that the present technique is useful, even for the thin tape. From the analysis taking yield of the Ag into account, CTE of Bi2223 in the multifilamentary tapes were determined. It was found that CTE of Bi2223 in the present study locates between the reported data of αab and αc, which represent the CTE parallel to the ab-plane and c-axis. These are the first results on CTE measurement of Bi2223 at low temperature by the indirect method.