Evaluating Magnetization Losses in 3-D CORC® Tapes with Integral and Finite Element Methods

The complex electromagnetic (EM) behavior of Conductor on Round Core (CORC®), compounded by the high aspect ratio of superconducting tapes and the micro-scale thickness of REBCO layers, necessitates robust 3-D numerical tools. This paper compares 3-D Finite Element Methods (FEM) and Integral Equation Methods (IEM) for analyzing magnetization losses in superconducting tapes of CORC® cables. Specifically, state-of-the-art FEM formulations, including the H, H-φm, and T-A methods, are benchmarked against a surface-based IEM approach. The numerical implementation strategies, computational efficiency, and performance of these methods are examined, emphasizing their strengths and limitations in addressing critical phenomena such as AC losses.