Influence of current redistribution on quench propagation velocity in Rutherford cable

Quench propagation velocity is one of the most important parameters for the quench protection of superconducting magnets. We examined the relations between the current redistribution and the quench propagation velocity in a Rutherford cable made of non-insulated strands. Measurements were performed in the cables with three contact conditions between strands, and it was found that the quench propagation velocity and the current redistribution depended on the contact conditions between strands. A numerical simulation of the current redistribution using a simple model was performed. We made comparisons between the test and numerical results, and there was good agreement. We analyzed the numerical results in detail, and found that the current redistribution caused by the magnetic field distribution in the cable cross-section around the boundary of the normal zone, called normal front, enhanced the quench propagation velocity. (C) 2001 Cryogenic Association of Japan. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.