Stress measurements on a high-magnetic-field solenoid

Measurements have been carried out of the strain exerted on the conductor of a copper-wire-wound coil used to produce intense pulsed magnetic fields. The strains, measured using resistance strain gauges, were used to calculate the azimuthal and axial components of stress as a function of magnetic field strength. Measurements were carried out for magnetic fields up to 10 T which produced a maximum azimuthal stress of 1·6 × 10 8 N m −2 and a maximum axial stress of 0·14 × 10 8 N m −2 . The measured values are compared with those calculated by Melville and Mattocks (1972) and found to agree within the experimental error. The measuring apparatus is briefly described.