Formation and upper critical fields of the two distinct A15 phases in the subelements of Powder-In-Tube Nb3Sn wires

It is well known that the A15 layer in the subelements of a Powder-In-Tube (PIT) Nb3Sn wire exhibits two different grain morphologies: a region with fine grains (~200 nm in size) representing about 60% of the total A15 area and one with large grains (1-2 {\mu}m in size). By means of high field specific heat and magnetization measurements we have shown that these two A15 phases correspond to two distinctly different Tc distributions, the large grains region exhibiting a higher Tc and a lower Bc2, the fine grains region a lower Tc and a higher Bc2. We report here the values of the superconducting parameters (Tc, Bc2) of the two A15 phases, as determined from an original model to fit the experimental Tc distribution. After a prolonged reaction treatment (625{\deg}C/320h), an increase of the fine grain region was observed at the expenses of the large grain region, the Bc2(0K) value of the former being raised from 28.8 to 31.7 T. These changes explain the marked increase of Jc to 2'700 A/cm2 at 4.2K/12T, the highest value measured so far in PIT wires

Nonuniversal conductivity exponents in continuum percolating Gaussian fractures

We study the electrical and hydraulic conductivity percolation exponents in a Gaussian fracture using the method proposed in Plouraboué et al. [Phys. Rev. E 73, 036305, 2006]. Nonuniversal conductivity percolation exponents are found: they differ from the theoretical predictions for infinite system size for frozen power-law distributions of local conductivities, as with their finite size corrections. In the hydraulic case, we also find that the probability density function of the conductivity follows a power-law distribution near the percolation threshold

Geodesic network method for flows between two rough surfaces in contact

A discrete network method based on previous asymptotic analysis for computing fluid flows between confined rough surfaces is proposed. This random heterogeneous geodesic network method could be either applied to surfaces described by a continuous random field or finely discretized on a regular grid. This method tackles the difficult problem of fluid transport between rough surfaces in close contact. We describe the principle of the method as well as detail its numerical implementation and performances. Macroscopic conductances are computed and analyzed far from the geometrical percolation threshold. Numerical results are successfully compared with the effective medium approximation, the application of which is also studied analytically

The behaviour of copper in view of radiation damage in the LHC luminosity upgrade

In view of the safe operation of the quadrupoles in the luminosity upgrade of the LHC accelerator, the response of the copper stabilizer at low temperatures to the various high energy radiation sources is of primary importance. The present study takes into account the expected high energy spectrum of the simultaneous radiation by neutrons, protons, pions, electrons and photons, calculated using the FLUKA code by F. Cerutti (CERN) as well as on literature values. It was found that proton irradiation causes a considerably higher damage than neutron irradiation: in spite of a 3.8% proton fraction, the measured damage is of the order of 20%, which fits with the calculations of N. Mokhov (Fermilab) on the contribution of protons to the dpa. The same calculations indicate that the total effect of protons, pions and electrons is at least as high as that of neutrons. Since recent neutron experiments of Nakamoto et al. show that the RRR of Cu is reduced from 200 to 50-120 for a fluence of 10^{21} n/cm^{2}, it follows that the inclusion of all high energy sources would lead to RRR values well below 50, thus endangering stability and protection. This result confirms the necessity of including a tungsten shield inside the quadrupoles.Comment: 7 pages, Contribution to WAMSDO 2013: Workshop on Accelerator Magnet, Superconductor, Design and Optimization; 15 - 16 Jan 2013, CERN, Geneva, Switzerlan

Improved critical current densities in B4C doped MgB2 based wires

An improvement of the transport critical current density, Jc, of MgB2 wires was obtained after addition of 10 wt.% B4C powders, after reaction at 800 C: Jc values of 1.10^4 A/cm2 at 4.2 K and 9T were obtained for wires of 1.11 mm diameter in a Fe matrix. The starting mixture of Mg and B was doped with sub-micrometric B4C, the ratio being Mg : B : B4C = 1: 2 : 0.08, corresponding to 10 wt.% B4C. For T > 800 C, a decrease of Jc was found, due to the reaction with the Fe sheath. In order to investigate the origin of the improvement of the transport properties for heat treatments up to 800 C, X-ray diffraction measurements were performed. A decrease of the lattice constant a from 0.30854 nm to 0.30797 nm was found, thus suggesting an effect of the substitution of Carbon on the properties of the wires. A comparison with the literature data shows that the addition of B4C powders leads to the second highest improvement of Jc reported so far after SiC, thus constituting an alternative for future applications.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figures, 1 tabl

Etude statistique de la conductance d'un joint d'étanchéité statique

Cette thèse est motivée par l'étude de l'étanchéité des systèmes boulonnés où un joint métallique est placé entre deux brides de serrage. L'objectif est de mieux comprendre les mécanismes de la fuite en développant de nouveaux outils de calculs afin de la modéliser et l'estimer. Dans ce travail, le champ d'ouverture entre les deux surfaces en contact est modélisé par un champ Gaussien aléatoire isotrope corrélé à courte portée. Le système est découpé en pavés élémentaires représentatifs. La conductance à l'échelle du joint est déduite de l'étude statistique à l'échelle du pavé. Nous avons développé dans le cadre de l'approximation de lubrification un code de calcul fondé sur une approche réseau, qui permet de ramener le calcul de la conductance à l'échelle du pavé à un problème de résistances distribuées sur un réseau aléatoire. Le réseau est construit à partir de l'identification des points critiques du champ d'ouverture. Les maxima de ce champ sont reliés entre eux, via les cols, par des liens. La conductance d'un lien est calculée en fonction des caractéristiques géométriques du col. Dans un premier temps, on considère que le champ d'ouverture se déforme de façon purement plastique selon un modèle d'écrêtage géométrique. Prés du seuil de percolation, on trouve que l'évolution de la conductance à l'échelle du pavé suit une loi puissance nouvelle. Loin du seuil, les résultats numériques ont été favorablement comparés avec une approximation de champ moyen. Dans un deuxième temps, nous nous sommes intéressé à l'impact de déformations élastiques. Un code de calcul fondé sur l'approximation de Boussinesq a été couplé à l'approche réseau. Les résultats indiquent un impact non négligeable des déformations élastiques sur les conductances. Enfin, l'approche réseau a été adaptée pour simuler à l'aide d'un algorithme de percolation d'invasion le processus de drainage quasi-statique. Une bonne adéquation entre résultats numériques et expérimentaux a été obtenue. ABSTRACT : This work is motivated by thightness technological problems associated with metallic gasket. The objective is a better understanding of leakage mecanisms, through the development of new computationals tools. In this study, the aperture field between two rough surfaces in contact is described by a short correlated isotropic random Gaussian process. The system is studied as a set of independant elementary surfaces. Joint conductances are evalueted from a statistical study on those elementary surfaces. A computational code is developed using a network approach based on lubrification theory estimation of local conductances. The global conductance computation becomes analogous to an electrical problem for wich the resistances are distributed on a random network. The network is built from the identification of the aperture field critical points. Maxima are linked through saddle points. Bond conductances are estimated at the aperture field's saddle points. First, a purely plastic model of deformations is considered. Near percolation threshold the conductances display a power behaviour. Far from percolation threshold, numerical results are favourably compared with an effective medium approximation. Secondly, we study the impact of elastic deformations. A computational code based on Boussinesq approximation is coupled to the network approach. The results indicate a significant impact of elastic deformations on conductances. Finally, the network approach is adapted to simulate quasi-static drainage thanks to a classical invasion percolation algorithm. A good comparison between previous experiments and numerical predictions is obtained