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During the development of MQXF, the new Nb3Sn quadrupole to be used in the large hadron collider (LHC) inner triplets for the High Luminosity upgrade, three short models were tested: MQXFS1, MQXFS3, and MQXFS5. These models differ in the use of thin or thick laminations for the iron components, in the coil design, and in the superconductive strands, rod restack process (RRP) or powder in tube (PIT). In the MQXF design, the azimuthal prestress is provided at room temperature by means of the bladder-key technology, and it is further increased during the cooldown by the differential thermal contraction of the various components. Four aluminum rods provide the longitudinal prestress. Both systems allow for a flexible control of the amount of prestress applied. As a consequence, it was possible to test the models exploring different azimuthal and longitudinal prestress conditions, in an attempt to understand their impact on the magnet performances. This paper studies the mechanical behavior of these short models, also providing the strain and stresses measured by means of strain gauges installed on the aluminum shell, on the winding poles and on the rods. Finally, the paper compares the measures with the results from finite element (FE) models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the framework of the Large Hadron Collider Luminosity upgrade (HiLumi-LHC) project, the US LHC accelerator research program is developing high-gradient, large-aperture \Nb3 \Sn quadrupole magnets for the LHC interaction regions. The fabrication and tests of a first series of 120-mm-aperture “HQ01” coils revealed design issues that resulted in limited performance. A second series of coils was fabricated in which a number of improved features were implemented (HQ02 coils). The improvements were partly validated with the successful test of an HQ02 coil in a mirror structure, which reached 97% of the short sample. Here, we review the modifications in the coil design and the coil fabrication process, report the issues met during the fabrication, give details of the few differences that exist within the set of HQ02 coils, and discuss a list of further improvements that will be implemented in a third series of HQ coils. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We report on the fabrication, assembly, and test of the Nb3 Sn dipole magnet HD2. The magnet, aimed at demonstrating the application of Nb3 Sn superconductor in high field accelerator-type dipoles, features a 36 mm clear bore surrounded by block-type coils with tilted ends. The coil design is optimized to minimize geometric harmonics in the aperture and the magnetic peak field on the conductor in the coil ends. The target bore field of 15 T at 4.3 K is consistent with critical current measurements of extracted strands. The coils are horizontally pre-stressed during assembly using an external aluminum shell pre-tensioned with water-pressurized bladders. Axial pre-loading of the coil ends is accomplished through two end plates and four aluminum tension rods. The strain in coil, shell, and rods is monitored with strain gauges during assembly, cool-down and magnet excitation, and compared with 3D finite element computations. Magnet's training performance, quench locations, and ramp-rate dependence are then analysed and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The LHC Accelerator Research Program (LARP) is currently developing 4 m long Nb3 Sn quadrupole magnets for a possible upgrade of the LHC Interaction Regions (IR). In order to provide a reliable test bed for the fabrication and test of long Nb,3Sn coils, LARP has started the development of the long racetrack magnet LRS01. The magnet is composed of two 3.6 m long racetrack coils contained in a support structure based on an aluminum shell pre-tensioned with water-pressurized bladders and interference keys. For the phase-one test of the assembly procedure and loading operation, the structure was pre-stressed at room temperature and cooled down to 77 K with instrumented, solid aluminum "dummy coils". Mechanical behavior and stress homogeneity were monitored with strain gauges mounted on the shell and the dummy coils. The dummy coils were replaced with reacted and impregnated Nb3 Sn coils in a second assembly procedure, followed by cool-down to 4.5 K and powered magnet test. This paper reports on the assembly and loading procedures of the support structure as well as the comparison between strain gauge data and 3-D model predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of high-performance Nb3 Sn quadrupoles is one of the major goals of the LHC Accelerator Research Program (LARP). As part of this program, long racetrack magnets were made in order to ~heck the fabrication steps for long Nb3 Sn coils, that the changes in coil length that take place during reaction and cooldown are correctly accounted for in the quadrupole design, and the use of a long aluminum shell for the support structure. This paper reports the construction of the first long Nb3 Sn magnet with racetrack coils 3.6 m long. The magnet reached a nominal "plateau" at 9596 A after five quenches. This is about 90% of the estimated conductor limit. The peak field in the coils at this current was 11 T. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of the LHC Accelerator Research Program (LARP), three US national laboratories (BNL, FNAL, and LBNL) are currently engaged in the development of superconducting magnets for the LHC Interaction Regions (IR) beyond the current design. As a first step towards the development of long Nb3Sn quadrupole magnets, a 3.6 m long structure, based on the LBNL Subscale Common-Coil Magnet design, will be fabricated, assembled, and tested with aluminum-plate ‘dummy coils’. The structure features an aluminum shell pre-tensioned over iron yokes using pressurized bladders and locking keys (bladder and key technology). Pre-load homogeneity and mechanical responses are monitored with pressure sensitive films and strain gauges mounted on the aluminum shell and the dummy coils. The details of the design and fabrication are presented and discussed, and the expected mechanical behavior is analysed with finite element models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]