Title :
Design and testing of a rapid fire, lightweight, ultra stiff railgun for a cannon caliber electromagnetic launcher system
Author :
Werst, M.D. ; Cook, K.G. ; Kitzmiller, J.R. ; Liu, H.P. ; Price, J.H. ; Yun, H.D.
Author_Institution :
Center for Electromech., Texas Univ., Austin, TX, USA
Abstract :
The goal of the Cannon Caliber Program is to drive 185 g integrated launch packages to 1850 m/s. Three, five-round salvos with a firing rate of 5 Hz are intended to defeat specified targets at a range of up to 3 km. After an extensive alternative study, the design team consisting of United Defence FMC/BMY, the Center for Electromechanics at The University of Texas at Austin (CEM-UT) and Kaman Electromagnetics Corporation (KEC) has chosen to use an air-core, compensated pulsed alternator (compulsator) to power a rapid fire railgun to accomplish this task. A railgun launcher has been designed to fulfil the rapid fire requirements of the system just described. The design incorporates a directional preloading feature and ceramic sidewalls which combined make the railgun structurally stiff and lightweight. This publication focuses on the design, development and initial testing of the railgun launcher.<>
Keywords :
power supplies to apparatus; pulsed power technology; railguns; testing; thermal analysis; 1850 m/s; 3 km; 5 Hz; Cannon Caliber Program; Center for Electromechanics; Kaman Electromagnetics Corporation; United Defence FMC/BMY; University of Texas at Austin; air-core compensated pulsed alternator; cannon caliber electromagnetic launcher system; ceramic sidewalls; compulsator; directional preloading; five-round salvos; integrated launch packages; railgun launcher; rapid fire ultra stiff railgun; Boring; Ceramics; Coolants; Cooling; Electromagnetic launching; Fires; Railguns; Rails; Testing; Thermal management;
Journal_Title :
Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on
