Research on the Radial Crimping Process for Stacked High-Temperature Superconducting Cable-in-Conduit Conductor

The radial crimping process is a crucial step in fabricating stacked high-temperature superconducting (HTS) cable-in-conduit conductor (CICC) made with rare earth barium copper oxide (REBCO) HTS tapes for the application of large-scale HTS magnets at low temperatures. This paper presents theoretical research on the forming principle and correlated law of the radial crimping process for stacked HTS CICC. Firstly, a finite element model is developed to simulate the forming process of the conductor under the conditions of the radial crimping process steps. Subsequently, the changes in the wall thickness of the jacket, the stress-strain distribution of the conductor, and the deformation characteristics of the stacked tapes during the forming process are analyzed. Finally, by comparing the calculated results with the experimental ones, the effects of different crimping steps on the forming quality of the conductor are studied. This research can provide significant references for optimizing the manufacturing process of stacked HTS CICCs and improving the overall performance of the conductor.