Title :
Critical current density in railguns with composite electrodes
Author :
Shvetsov, G.A. ; Stankevich, S.V.
Author_Institution :
Lavrentyev Inst. of Hydrodynamics, Acad. of Sci., Novosibirsk, Russia
Abstract :
The critical current density in railguns with plasma armatures is one of the basic parameters determining their efficiency and kinematic characteristics. The possibility to increase the critical current density when using bimetallic or composite (particles of different metals) electrodes is analyzed in the paper. The scaling ratios relating the values of critical current density, projectile velocity and acceleration time and the basic physical properties of the electrode material in "nonerosion" regime are obtained. Using these ratios, the coefficient of the relative heat resistance is introduced which makes it possible to compare the composites with reference to a standard material, for example, copper. The results of numerical calculations of this coefficient for a number of composites of different structure are presented.<>
Keywords :
acceleration; composite materials; critical currents; current density; electrodes; plasma devices; projectiles; railguns; thermal resistance; acceleration time; composite electrodes; critical current density; efficiency; kinematic characteristics; nonerosion regime; numerical calculations; plasma armatures; projectile velocity; railguns; relative heat resistance coefficient; scaling ratios; Acceleration; Critical current density; Electrodes; Kinematics; Plasma accelerators; Plasma density; Plasma properties; Projectiles; Railguns; Resistance heating;
Journal_Title :
Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on
