Electromagnetic force, jerk, and electric gun projectiles

The authors define jerk in terms of electromagnetic parameters and give simple examples of stress amplification with increasing acceleration rate. For a given barrel caliber and length, railgun and projectile structural limitations produce a family of curves which define a range of allowed muzzle energies. Maps of ideal performance are presented based on idealized current waveforms modified to observe railgun and projectile structural limitations. The authors also describe a modification to explosive opening switches which allows control of the developed voltage of the switch and therefore the rate of rise of current in the railgun. Experimental data demonstrating this capability on a 60-MJ power supply are presented