ET-guns with working media of low molecular weight: a numerical study

Author

Hensel, D. ; Daree, K. ; Silvestre, N.

Author_Institution

French-German Res. Inst., Saint-Louis, France

Volume

31

Issue

1

fYear

1995

Firstpage

414

Lastpage

418

Abstract

Numerical simulations of the electrothermal acceleration process have been carried out in order to assess the potential of different working media. For some interesting substances, the mass/energy ratio and the total dissipated energy are varied in the computations. A comparison to conventional powder guns is made for a small calibre (bore diameter=20 mm) weapon. Using SESAME equations of state, good efficiency is predicted for hydrogen, helium and polyethylene and medium efficiency for lithium vapor. For muzzle velocities around 1500 m/s, ET guns show similar characteristics as chemical guns. Approaching 2500 m/s, the maximum gas pressure in the ET gun is decisively smaller. With a tolerable pressure of 500 MPa, the hydrogen gun can accelerate a mass of 100 g to nearly 2000 m/s in a barrel length of 2.25 m (2300 m/s in 4.25 m).<>

Keywords

electrothermal launchers; equations of state; numerical analysis; weapons; 100 g; 1500 m/s; 2.25 m; 20 mm; 2000 m/s; 2300 m/s; 2500 m/s; 4.25 m; 500 MPa; SESAME equations of state; barrel; efficiency; electrothermal guns; low molecular weight; mass/energy ratio; muzzle; numerical study; small calibre; total dissipated energy; weapon; working media; Acceleration; Boring; Electrothermal effects; Equations; Guns; Hydrogen; Numerical simulation; Powders; Weapons;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.364688

Filename

364688