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A prototype twin superconducting quadrupole magnet for the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is being developed and built at CEN/Saclay in collaboration with CERN. This paper describes the mechanical tests performed to validate the main concepts of the mechanical design in order to meet the requirements of prestress while maintaining a precise geometrical shape of the coils. Moulding tests on samples of superconducting cables have been made in order to evaluate the final size of the coils after curing and under stress. Collaring tests have been made on small length models to verify the process and the resulting prestress. The principal results and conclusions of the tests are summarized.

Within the framework of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) R&D program, CERN and CEN/Saclay have established a collaboration to carry out, amongst others, the design, building, and testing of a superconducting LHC prototype quadrupole at the Saclay laboratory. The twin aperture prototype, working in liquid helium at 1.8 K, has a gradient of 250 T/m, is about 3.2 m long, with a coil aperture of 56 mm. This paper describes the present state of the R&D work for the quadrupole magnet, reviewing the fabrication and validation tests of the design.

As part of a collaboration with the SSC, CEA/Saclay has designed a superconducting quadrupole magnet for the High Energy Booster ring. A number of prototypes are being built at Saclay, after which the production will be handed over to an American firm. This paper presents the mechanical, thermal and electromagnetic analyses which have been performed during the design of the magnet.