Influence of mechanical properties of HTS cable to its critical current

Mechanical properties of HTS cable cores have been experimentally investiga ted. As is well known, HTS tapes with Ag-sheathed Bi-2223 have weak mechani cal properties. Most attentions to the weakness have been concentrated on t he tape itself. However for realizing HTS cables, it is necessary to examin e mechanical properties of the cable, because the performances of HTS cable s are affected by stresses during cable production and their final Ises. Th ree mechanical tests were performed; (1) a thermal cycle test, (2) a bendin g test and (3) a tensile Lest. In the thermal cycle test Ic was not influen ced, in the bending test, Ic depended on a bending radius, and a I,ending r adius of less than 500 nlm caused a significant problem to the conducting a nd shielding layers of the cable. It was also found that a flexible former was more suitable for the HTS cable than a copper pipe former although its pressure drop was higher Tor liquid nitrogen. The tensile test indicated th at tensile strains of up to (0.3% did not decrease Ic, and at 0.5% tensile strain Ic decreased to 10% of the initial Ic. These results are useful for HTS cable design.