Current transfer behaviour in anisotropic superconducting bodies is the central topic of this thesis and focuses on the effect that the nonlinearity of the electric field dependence upon the local current density value and anisotropy have on the nature of current transport. The main motivation for this work was the desire for a better understanding of the conceptually difficult behaviour of current transport in superconducting bodies and examines current transfer quantitatively for a number of important problems on the macroscopic and microscopic scale. This behaviour is examined both experimentally and using computer models. The successful development of a powerful, robust and adaptable numerical model for analysing the complex current transfer behaviour has been the primary aim of this work. The range of parameters appropriate to macroscopic models of the Bi-2212 CRT system has been experimentally examined using a specifically constructed apparatus for the measurement of current transport characteristics. A study of the self-field properties of the Bi-2212 CRT material using a new experimental technique and mathematical analysis is presented and has allowed the importance of the self-field effect in the numerical model to be assessed. An essential requirement for the practical application of high current superconducting devices is the development of low resistance current contacts. The research presented examines this macroscopic current transfer problem and aims to explain experimentally observed current transfer characteristics at high applied currents. Existing models cannot explain these characteristics. Current transfer on the microscopic scale is also examined. Models of current transfer have been developed from descriptions of specific microstructures that are thought to characterise the microstructure of Bi-2223 and Bi-2212 silver-sheathed tapes. This thesis specifically presents modelling of current transfer between c-axis, low-angle c-axis and edge-on c-axis tilt oriented grain interfaces; the principal current transfer paths between individual current elements of the microstructural models of current flow in polycrystalline HTSs.

The aim of this work has been to apply the techniques of non-destructive testing and evaluation to the graphite fuel channel bricks which form the core of an Advanced Gas-Cooled reactor. Two modes of graphite degradation have been studied: subsurface cracks originating from the keyway corners of the bricks and the reduction in material density caused by radiolytic oxidation. This work has focused on electromagnetic inspection techniques. Brick cracking has been studied using a multi-frequency eddy current technique with the aim of determining quantitative information. In order to accurately control the crack dimensions this work has used radially machined slots as an analogue. Two sensor geometries were studied and it was determined that slots of at least 10 mm through-wall extent could be located. A novel, empirical method of determining the slot size is presented using a brick machined with a series of reference slots. Machined slots originating from a keyway could be sized to within 2 mm using this method. A parametric 3D finite element study was also carried out on this problem. These simulations could distinguish the location of the slots and had some sensitivity to their size, however, the model was found to be overly sensitive to the specific mesh used. Two new contributions to the inverse problem are presented. The first is a minor extension to the usual adjoint problem in which one system now contains a gradiometer. The second is a proposed solution to the ambiguous nature of the inner product required by the sensitivity formulation. This solution has been validated with finite element modelling. Density reduction has been studied via its relationship with electrical conductivity using a technique based on impedance spectroscopy. An inverse eddy current problem has been solved using the regularised Gauss-Newton method to determine the conductivity of the brick over its cross section. The associated forward problem has been solved using the finite element method on a simplified geometry. Tikhonov regularisation has been employed to overcome the ill-posed nature of the inverse problem. This method has been applied to a range of sample and sensor geometries and found to produce excellent results from laboratory data provided the finite element model is well calibrated. Bore or surface conductivity values can be reproduced to better than 1% with the accuracy reducing with distance from the sensor. The sensitivity of the algorithm to the regularisation parameter has been studied using the L-curve method and the effect of two regularisation operators has also been examined. A new method of choosing the regularisation parameter a priori is proposed and tested. Data taken during reactor outages produces physically realistic profiles although the results appear off-set from electrical resistivity values measured using the four-point method. The focus of future work should be to remove this effect which will likely require improvements to the forward model.

Yes / For composite cellular beams, additional deflections occur due to the loss of bending and shear stiffness at the opening positions and also due to slip in the shear connectors caused by partial shear connection. Design formulae are presented for the additional deflection of composite beams with circular openings or for cellular beams as a function of the proportionate depth of the openings. The simplified formulae are calibrated against finite element results for both cellular and solid web beams and also against measured deflections of a 15.3 m composite cellular beam test. This additional deflection is presented as a function of flexural and shear terms that are a function of the span:depth ratio. For modelling of cellular beams to determine deflections, the circular opening may be represented by an equivalent rectangular opening of length equal to 70% of the opening diameter.

No / This paper described the finite element modelling of the semi-rigid composite beam-column joints with the composite steel beams and precast hollowcore slabs which can accurately simulate the moment-rotation response of the connections. Using the general purpose finite element software ABAQUS, a three dimensional model of the composite joint is set up. The techniques of simulating the bolt force, the endplate, the concrete elements, the reinforcement, the shear connectors and the interaction between the slabs and the steel beams are discussed. The results are presented and compared with the experimental data and good agreement is obtained. Parametric studies using the developed model will be performed to gain better understanding of this form of composite joints.

No / The main objective of this research is to develop an accurate and efficient nonlinear finite element model to study the behaviour headed shear connectors in composite beams with pairs of shear connectors. A numerical model for push test will be prepared to predict capacity, load-slip behaviour and failure modes of headed shear stud. The model will be verified against test results and after validation; it will be used to study the effect of various parameters on the performance of the shear connector.

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No description available.

Semi-rigid composite connections with precast hollowcore slabs are a newly developed technique with few applications in current construction practice. The research on the structural behaviour of this new type of connection is limited, with no existing method available to predict its important characteristics such as moment and rotation capacities. In this paper, based on the parametric studies of the three-dimensional finite element model and full-scale tests, analytical methods to calculate the moment and rotation capacity of this type of composite joint are proposed. A comparison between the proposed calculation method and the full-scale test results was made, and good agreement was obtained.

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