Alternative Concepts for Structurally Supporting the Cold Mass of a Superconducting Accelerator Magnet

Abstract

Experimental and analytical studies toward the goal of replacing the fiberglass reentrant support posts and their end restraint systems with lower cost injection molded posts are described. Thermoplastic resins with chopped fiberglass reinforcement having lower thermal conductivity were investigated. Experimentally obtained data from creep, shear, and tensile tests on actual injection molded posts of Ultem and Noryl are included. Discussion of flaws and quality control is included. These studies for the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) and the Superconducting Super Collider (SSC) are continuing at Brookhaven National Laboratory and at the SSC Laboratory.

This work was conducted under Universities Research Association Grant 90-C-0077 and Brookhaven National Laboratories Contract 410150.

Operated by the Universities Research Association, Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-AC02-89R40486