Influences of cracking of coated superconducting layer on voltage-current curve, critical current, and n-value in DyBCO-coated conductor pulled in tension

Influences of cracking of coating layer under applied tensile strain on V(voltage)-I(current) curve, critical current, and n-value of DyBa(2)Cu(3)O(7-delta) coated conductor were studied experimentally and analytically. The experimentally measured variations in V-I curve, critical current, and n-value with increasing applied strain and the correlation of n-value to critical current were described well by the partial crack-current shunting model of Fang Also, the variations in the ratio of shunting current to overall critical current and the ratio of voltage developed in the cracked region to overall voltage with extension of crack, and the variation in critical current with the ratio of noncracked area to overall cross-sectional area of superconducting layer were revealed. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3488014]