The critical current of Nb3Sn wires for ITER as a function of the axial tension and compression

The influence of compressive and tensile axial strains on the critical current of various Nb3Sn conductors is investigated. The investigated multifilamentary wires are especially developed for the ITER project. The critical current is determined as a function of an axial tension in a standard pull set-up. These results are compared with the results that are obtained on a bending spring-type strain device. In this second device an axial compression larger than the integral thermal shrinkage of the matrix, can be achieved. A study of the field dependence of the critical current yields the strain dependence of the extrapolated upper-critical field versus the axial strain. A good correlation is found between the two different strain devices in the tensile strain regime. There is a difference in the (limited) compressive strain regime where such a comparison can be made