Analysis of mechanical behavior and electromechanical properties of REBCO-coated conductor tapes under combined bending-tension loads using numerical methods

Abstract Rare-earth barium copper oxide (REBCO) high-temperature superconducting-coated conductor (CC) tapes are potential conductors for high-field magnets. In an operating high-field magnet, REBCO CC tapes are bent into coils and simultaneously subjected to hoop electromagnetic forces. Under these combined bending-tension loads, the critical current ( I c ) of the REBCO CC tapes is at risk of irreversible degradation. Therefore, investigating the mechanical behavior and electromechanical properties of REBCO CC tapes under combined bending-tension loads is necessary. In this study, the mechanical behavior of REBCO CC tapes was analyzed using a finite element model (FEM). First, in the fabrication-cooling process of REBCO CC tapes, the thermal residual stress/strain accumulated in the constituent layers was analyzed. Then, considering the thermal residual stress/strain as the initial stress–strain state, the mechanical behavior of REBCO CC tapes under various mechanical loads, such as axial tension, bending, and combined bending-tension at 77 K, was analyzed. Furthermore, a phenomenological model of the internal strain in the REBCO films dependence of I c was developed for analyzing the electromechanical properties of REBCO CC tapes under combined bending-tension loads at 77 K. Calculated results showed that the compressive thermal residual strain in REBCO films at 77 K was −0.25%, and the internal strain in the REBCO films corresponding to the irreversible degradation of I c was 0.45% under axial tension loads, which was verified by experimental results. Under bending and combined bending-tension loads, the distribution of the internal strain in the REBCO films along the width direction was non-uniform owing to the Poisson effect, and the onset of the irreversible degradation of I c occurred at the outer edge of the REBCO films. The phenomenological model was experimentally verified to be effective in I c degradation behavior prediction under combined bending-tension loads, and model predictions based on the FEM results indicated that the electromechanical properties were significantly influenced by the bending modes (tensile bending or compressive bending) of the REBCO CC tapes.