Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Nb”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 325 records · Page 18
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

X-ray-induced piezoresponse during X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy of PbMg 1/3 Nb 2/3 O 3

X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) holds strong promise for observing atomic-scale dynamics in materials, both at equilibrium and during non-equilibrium transitions. Here an in situ XPCS study of the relaxor ferroelectric PbMg 1/3 Nb 2/3 O 3 (PMN) is reported. A weak applied AC electric field generates strong response in the speckle of the diffuse scattering from the polar nanodomains, which is captured using the two-time correlation function. Correlated motions of the Bragg peak are also observed, which indicate dynamic tilting of the illuminated volume. This tilting quantitatively accounts for the observed two-time speckle correlations. The magnitude of the tilting would not be expected solely from the modest applied field, since PMN is an electrostrictive material with no linear strain response to the field. A model is developed based on non-uniform static charging of the illuminated surface spot by the incident micrometre-scale X-ray beam and the electrostrictive material response to the combination of static and dynamic fields. The model qualitatively explains the direction and magnitude of the observed tilting, and predicts that X-ray-induced piezoresponse could be an important factor in correctly interpreting results from XPCS and nanodiffraction studies of other insulating materials under applied AC field or varying X-ray illumination.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Mechanical Performance of the First Two Prototype 4.5 m Long Nb$_3$Sn Low-$β$ Quadrupole Magnets for the Hi-Lumi LHC Upgrade

The U.S. High-Luminosity LHC Accelerator Upgrade Project (HL-LHC AUP) team is collaborating with CERN in the design and fabrication of the first 4.5 m long MQXFA magnets, a 150 mm aperture high-field Nb$_3$Sn quadrupole magnet that uses the aluminum shell-based bladder-and-key technology. The first two prototype magnets, MQXFAP1 and MQXFAP2, were assem-bled and tested while the first pre-series structure (MQXFA03) was in fabrication. This paper summarizes the mechanical perfor-mance of these prototype structures based on the comparison of measured strain gauge data with finite element model analyses from all load steps to powering. The MQXFAP1 magnet almost reached ultimate current before a short to ground was detected and the test was stopped. The MQXFAP2 magnet experienced a low training performance due to a fractured aluminum shell. MQXFAP1b was rebuilt with a new replacement coil, but an old coil limited the magnet from achieving the ultimate current. The mitigations and analyses of these prototype magnets are discussed in the context of the transition to pre-series production.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Mechanical Comparison of Short Models of Nb$_3$ Sn Low-$\beta$ Quadrupole for the Hi-Lumi LHC

MQXF is the Nb 3 Sn Low-β quadrupole magnet that the HL-LHC project is planning to install in the LHC interaction regions in 2026 to increase the LHC integrated luminosity. The magnet will be fabricated in two different lengths: 4.2 m for MQXFA, built in the US by the Accelerator Upgrade Project (AUP), and 7.15 m for MQXFB, fabricated by CERN. In order to qualify the magnet design and characterize its performance with different conductors, cable geometries and pre-load configurations, five short model magnets, called MQXFS, were fabricated, assembled and tested. We compare the mechanical behavior of short model magnets using experimental data and new numerical models that take into account the measured coil sizes as a function of position.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Fabrication and Testing of 18-mm-Period, 0.5-m-Long Nb 3 Sn Superconducting Undulator

The Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory, in collaboration with FNAL and LBNL, is developing a Nb 3 Sn superconducting undulator with the goal of installing this device on the APS storage ring and providing APS users with the novel radiation source. A series of short, similar to ~ 8-cm-long, 18-mm-period undulator prototype magnets have been designed, fabricated, and tested. The same design was scaled to fabricate a 0.5-m-long undulator prototype. Tests of this prototype showed that the designed peak magnetic field of 1.2 T at 850 A was successfully achieved. It represents at least a 20% improvement in comparison with a NbTi SCU having the same period and magnetic gap. Test results and lessons learned from the design process are reported here.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Progress in the Development of the Nb 3 Sn MQXFB Quadrupole for the HiLumi Upgrade of the LHC

The high-luminosity upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) requires new high field and large-aperture quadrupole magnets for the low-beta inner triplets (MQXF). With a nominal operating gradient of 132.2 T/m in a 150 mm aperture and a conductor peak field of 11.3 T, the new quadrupole magnets are based on Nb 3 Sn superconducting technology. After a series of short models constructed in close collaboration by LARP (LHC Accelerator Research Program) and CERN, the development program is entering in the series production phase with CERN on one side and the US Accelerator Upgrade Project (US-AUP) on the other side assembling and testing full-length magnets. This paper describes the status of the development activities at CERN, in particular on the cold powering test of the first MQFXB prototype and on the construction of the second full scale prototype. Critical operations such as reaction heat treatment, coil impregnation and magnet assembly are discussed. Finally, the plan towards the series production is described.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Field Measurement Results of the 15 T Nb 3 Sn Dipole Demonstrator MDPCT1b

A 15 T Nb 3 Sn dipole with cos-theta-type coils was developed to demonstrate a possible magnet design for a post-LHC proton-proton Collider. The magnet has 4-layer coils with 60-mm aperture, and has graded current density between the inner and outer layers to maximize performance. The coils are constrained by vertically-split, thick iron laminations, connected by aluminum Iclamps, and a thick stainless-steel skin. The magnet was previously tested at the Vertical Magnet Test Facility (VMTF) at Fermilab with reduced pre-load, and achieved record 14.1 T fields at maximum current. Now the magnet has been reassembled with full pre-load and has been cryogenically retested at VMTF. We report here on the magnetic measurements results of these tests, including field strength, geometrical harmonics, coil magnetization, and iron saturation characteristics of the demonstrator.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Design, Construction, and Testing of 0.5-m, 18-mm Period Nb 3 Sn Superconducting Undulator Magnets

We report design and fabrication of a new Nb 3 Sn-based superconducting undulator (SCU) are underway at the Advanced Photon Source (APS) of Argonne National Laboratory in collaboration with Fermilab and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. To develop a robust and reliable fabrication process, the magnet development consists of several steps. First, magnetic and mechanical simulations were performed to optimize the magnet design; then, the design matured further by fabricating and testing a series of very short prototypes, ~8 cm long with a period length of 18 mm. These short prototype studies were previously reported. Second, the design was scaled to an intermediate length of ~0.5 m. These two steps led to the final design of ~1.1–m-long magnets, which are currently being fabricated. The quench behavior of each 0.5-m-long undulator magnet, as well as undulator assemblies from these magnets, was studied. The first SCU magnet assembly did not meet the design specifications due to the breakdown of the insulation. With an improved design and fabrication process based on lessons learned, the second SCU assembly achieved the design undulator field of 1.2 T. The design was further optimized, and the third set of magnets was fabricated and successfully tested.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Proof-of-Principle Design of a High-Field Overpass/Underpass Nb 3 Sn Dipole

A block coil geometry is appealing in the body of particle accelerator dipole or quadrupole magnets, but less so in the ends of conventional designs, because conductors near the midplane of the beam tube must be bent in the hard direction to cross over to the other side of the tube. In order to avoid damage to brittle conductors such as Nb 3 Sn or HTS, the bend must be very gradual, resulting in undesirably long magnet ends. An alternative design -"overpass/underpass" or "cloverleaf" - can ramp the conductor within a short length with bending only in the easy direction. Described here is a proof-of-principle design and analysis of an "overpass/underpass" coil geometry for a block coil dipole of 11 Tor more.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2022

Minimum Quench Energy of Nb 3 Sn Wires With High Specific Heat Tape

A major problem of state-of-the-art Nb3Snaccelerator magnets is their long training due to thermo-mechanical perturbations. Increasing the specific heat, Cp, of the Rutherford cable would reduce and/or eliminate training by limiting the coils temperature rise. This paper studies feasibility of increasing the Cp of Rutherford-type cables by using thin composite Cu/Gd 2 O 3 and Cu/Gd 2 O 2 S tapes produced by HyperTech Research, Inc. The tape can be either wrapped around the cable, placed on the cable wide faces under the insulation, and/or inserted as a core. Wire samples outfitted with these high-Cp ribbons, or tapes, were prepared and tested at FNAL for their Minimum Quench Energy (MQE). At 90%Ic and 15 T, the average gain of MQE of the Nb 3 Sn wire soldered to the Cu/Gd 2 O 2 S 55 μm thick ribbon was 2.5, and further increased at larger transport currents.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

Applied Metrology for the Assembly of the Nb 3 Sn MQXFA Quadrupole Magnets for the HL-LHC AUP

The US HL-LHC Accelerator Upgrade Project (AUP) is building Nb 3 Sn quadrupole magnets, called MQXFA, with plans to install 16 of them in the HL-LHC Interaction Regions. Variability in coil size must be dealt with at the assembly level, which requires timely and repeatable measurement of each coil. In this paper we will present the methodology used for coil measurements and the geometrical size data for the coils that have been measured thus far. We will also show the coil measurements of 8 coils before and after cold test. In conclusion, the Leica AT960-MR laser tracker with Spatial Analyzer software acquired to achieve these measurements has been used elsewhere in the project to great effect.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

Computation of the Strain Induced Critical Current Reduction in the 16 T Nb 3 Sn Test Facility Dipole

A test facility dipole is being developed at LBNL, targeting a 16 T field in a 144 mm wide aperture. The magnet uses a block design, with two double-pancake coils. In order to minimize motion under the large Lorentz forces, the coils are preloaded against a thick aluminum shell and iron yoke using bladder and key technology. It is then crucial to verify that the performance of the magnet is not degraded due to strain induced on the Nb 3 Sn conductor during assembly, cool-down and powering. The critical current of extracted strands was measured in a varying background magnetic field and as a function of the applied longitudinal strain. Finite element analysis was used to extract the strain state inside the superconducting strands during magnet assembly and operation. This strain was then compared to the measurements to evaluate potential reversible and irreversible effects on the magnet performances. Here the results suggest that the magnet can reach 16 T with sufficient margin, with no irreversible degradation in the high field region.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2025

Design of B2PF: A Large Aperture Nb-Ti Dipole Magnet for the Electron-Ion Collider

Here, we present the initial design of the matching dipole B2PF, a large aperture cosine-theta magnet for the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC). First we share an optimized 2D magnet cross-section based on a double-layer design with Nb-Ti Rutherford cable. This cross-section is optimized to meet the required field quality in the 120 mm coil aperture both at the nominal operating current and considering iron saturation effects during the ramp. Next, we share a first design of the 3D coil ends optimized for windability, field quality, and minimizing the conductor peak field. Based on the resulting peak field, we evaluate the short-sample margin of the design for an operating target of 6.3 T dipole field at 1.9 K. Finally, we share an initial mechanical design study which utilizes a key-and-bladder support structure capable of adjusting magnet preload.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

A Computational Procedure for Assessing I$_{c}(\varepsilon$) in Nb$_{3}$Sn/Bi-2212 Hybrid Magnets

The critical current of superconductors is commonly measured by testing unloaded wires under an external magnetic field. While stressed by intense Lorentz forces, the existing HTS/LTS superconductors are prone to a reduction in critical current before reaching their structural mechanical limit. Here, in this work, the magnetic and mechanical analysis of the FNAL 4-layer Bi-2212/Nb$_{3}$Sn hybrid dipole magnet is reported, aimed at predicting the critical current degradation for both the superconductors during powering at 16T. All the Rutherford cables in the coils of the hybrid magnet were modeled at the strand level in Ansys APDL with the heterogeneous cable model. Utilizing this detailed geometry, it was possible to evaluate the effects of strain on the critical current degradation for both the Nb$_{3}$Sn and Bi-2212 superconductors under the intense Lorentz forces. The analysis presented in this paper integrates strain-dependent critical current laws, with parameters derived from experimental data, to simulate the hybrid magnet's performance for all possible current-powering configurations. The proposed methodology enables a detailed assessment of conductor integrity and I$_{C}(\varepsilon$) reduction in existing hybrid magnet designs, providing a versatile and rigorous framework for optimizing future high-field hybrid magnets.

D'Agliano, A. [Lawrence Berkeley National Laborato↗
DOE OSTI2025

Comparison of Nb 3 Sn Insulation Systems With as Received and De-Sized Glass

Epoxy cracking has been the main suspected contributor to training in Nb 3 Sn magnets for some time, as it leads to energy release and magnet quenching. Cracking in a superconducting composite can occur from several modes, and the likelihood of these modes is not well understood. Failure has been observed between insulation systems and the superconducting cable itself rather than within the cable or insulation. To target the behavior at the interface, samples have been fabricated and tested for Mode I fracture toughness in an adapted version of ASTM D5528. This work seeks to better characterize the fracture toughness of this interface to better understand how to model and design insulation systems.

Krave, Steven T. [Fermilab] (ORCID:000000021752145↗
DOE OSTI2024

Selective laser sintering and spark plasma sintering of (Zr,Nb,Ta,Ti,W)C compositionally complex carbide ceramics

Abstract Two advanced manufacturing processes, spark plasma sintering (SPS) and selective laser sintering (SLS), have been developed for synthesis of (Zr,Nb,Ta,Ti,W)C compositionally complex carbide (CCC) via reactive sintering of a powder mixture of constitute monocarbides. X‐ray diffraction analysis confirmed that the single‐phase CCC can be formed by both SPS and SLS. While a homogenous microstructure with uniform metal element distributions was developed during SPS, three‐layer microstructures with a thin TiC‐rich layer and two TaC‐rich layers along with a TiO 2 ‐rich surface layer containing W nanoparticles were formed during SLS. In addition, cellular structures with W, Zr, and Ti element segregation and dislocations on cell boundaries were observed in the SLS‐CCC sample, indicating the effect of nonequilibrium conditions on microstructure formation during laser melting followed by rapid cooling and solidification process. Compared to the SPS‐CCC sample, the SLS‐CCC showed enhanced hardness and reduced thermal conductivity, which may be related to their unique cellular structures.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Enhanced domain dynamics in alternating current poled rhombohedral Pb(Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 –PbTiO 3 single crystals

Abstract The understanding of domain dynamics in ferroelectric materials is crucial for optimizing their performance in piezoelectric and electro‐optic applications. Although previous studies have focused on static domain structures and macroscopic characteristics, the time‐resolved approach of domains remains largely unexplored. In this study, we compare the dynamic responses of direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) poled [001]‐oriented rhombohedral Pb(Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 –PbTiO 3 (PMN–PT) single crystals using X‐ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) during the application of external electric fields. Our results demonstrate that the AC‐poled sample exhibit enhanced reconfiguration of domain variants in response to driving fields compared to the DC‐poled counterpart, as evidenced by accelerated correlation decay and faster relaxation time. This phenomenon is attributed to enhanced reversible domain wall motion achieved through AC poling, which facilitates field‐induced domain realignment. These findings provide insight into the relationship between dynamics and macroscopic properties in relaxor‐PT single crystals for high‐performance applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗