Mechanical and heat transfer models for frictional heating in superconducting coils

Some mechanisms which can cause slip in superconducting coils are identified. Simple worst case elasticity models are developed which predict the magnitude of the relative motions and the frictional heat generated. A general heat transfer model is presented which predicts temperature rises in the superconductors. The model is applicable to superconducting windings with turn-to-turn insulation, where the slip occurs at an insulation-to-insulation interface. The model assumes the slip occurs in zero time in order to take into account the possibility of "stick-slip".