Structural Dynamic Analysis of the SSC 40 mm Collider Dipole Magnet Under Transportation Loads

Abstract

The Superconducting Super Collider (SSC) magnets will be transported to the tunnel site from various manufacturing locations in the United States. Dynamic loads during transportation could damage the magnets. As part of the overall magnet development program, the effects of transportation loads on the magnets should be investigated to ensure that design limits are not exceeded. A validated structural finite element model of the SSC 40-mm collider dipole magnet (CDM) was excited with actual road input data measured during transport. The test data was in the form of power spectral density (PSD). A random vibration analysis was carried out to determine system response at selected points on the structure. The results showed very good correlation with measured data. Dynamic stresses were calculated to try to understand the mechanism that caused the magnets to yield during shipment. The stresses observed were very small compared to the design limits of the vacuum vessel, where permanent deformation was observed after shipment. It was concluded that the yielding was not due to the transportation loads but to another mechanism that was not included in the model.