Effects induced by LHC high energy beam in copper structures

This study is performed in order to estimate the damage on copper components due to the impact of a 7 TeV proton beam in the Large Hadron Collider. The case study represents an accidental case consequent to an abnormal release of the beam, in which eight bunches impact directly the copper. The energy delivered on the components is calculated by the FLUKA Team at CERN using their Monte-Carlo code for calculation of particle transport and interactions with matter. The energy maps are used by the authors as input for the structural simulations carried out via the FEM code LS-DYNA. The evolution of the phenomenon is quite similar to what might happen during an explosion. The impacted part of the component reaches extremely high values of pressure and temperature and undergoes changes of state. The sudden increase in pressure originates outgoing shockwaves that, travelling through the component, lead to a substantial density reduction in the impacted part. The energy delivered on the component is sufficient to severely damage the target.

► We model the high energy particle beam impact against copper structures.
► We examine the thermo-mechanical response of the material.
► In the hit zone the pressure and temperature grow up reaching very high values.
► Shockwaves travel in the material that could undergo changes of state.
► After the impact the material is heavily plastically deformed and severely damaged.