  A homogenization method to model a stack of second generation (2G) High
Temperature Superconducting (HTS) tapes under AC applied transport current or
magnetic field has been obtained. The idea is to find an anisotropic bulk
equivalent for the stack, such that the geometrical layout of the internal
alternating structures of insulating, metallic, superconducting and substrate
layers is "washed" out while keeping the overall electromagnetic behavior of
the original stack. We disregard assumptions upon the shape of the critical
region and use a power law E-J relationship allowing for overcritical current
densities to be considered. The method presented here allows for a
computational speedup factor of up to 2 orders of magnitude when compared to
full 2-D simulations taking into account the actual dimensions of the stacks
without compromising accuracy.
