Finite element analysis of drawing of multifilamentary wires

Co-deformation and possible fracture during the drawing of internal tin multifilamentary superconductor wires was investigated by FEM simulation. A thermomechanical, elasto-plastic finite-element method was applied to simulate the drawing process. The experimental conditions and materials of interest to composite superconductor manufacture were assumed. In this 3D FEM model, the billet configuration was 6 around 1, with the subelement simulated as an assembly of Cu-clad Nb filaments array enclosing a pure Sn core. The outer sleeve was Cu. The initial state of the billet was assumed to be one without subelement-to-subelement bonding. A simple ductile fracture criterion was employed in this investigation to estimate the possible occurrence of fracture with different area reductions.