Thermal-energy transfer from arc to rails in an arc-driven rail gun

A model is developed for examining thermal-energy transfer from the arc to the rails in an arc-driven rail gun. Resistive heating within the rails is also accounted for, though the contribution to the rail temperature from this mechanism is frequently negligible. Melting of the rail surface is allowed in the model, but it is assumed that the melted material is swept away and absorbs no further energy. A set of differential equations is presented which, when solved, yield the temperature, magnetic induction, and current density within the rail, as well as the mass lost from the rail surface. The model is then used to analyze rail melting in a recent experiment by Jamison and Burden, using as input data in the model experimentally obtained parameters.