Measurements of interstrand thermal and electrical conductance in multistrand superconducting cables

A new apparatus has been developed to investigate interstrand contact properties of multistrand superconducting cables. The apparatus can measure interstrand electrical and thermal conductance simultaneously. Two NbTi samples were measured and influences of surface coating, contact force and pressing history on contact properties were investigated. These measurements provide essential data for theoretical analyses of stability of multistrand superconducting cable against local disturbances.