Investigations On The Electromagnetic Performance Of Alternate Electromagnetic Barrel Designs

This paper presents the results of a comprehensive study performed to examine the effects of different design configurations on the critical design parameters which affect the performance of parallel rail electromagnetic launcher barrels. The configurations investigated were 1. Four different rail-design configurations, 2. The effects of conducting shells at different spacings from the launcher rails, and 3. Augmentation vs. No Augmentation. The studies included a determination of the effects of the above configurations on values of rail inductance, the magnitude and distribution of eddy- currents and losses in the skin of the conductors, and the distribution of the electromagnetic forces exerted on the rails. Findings from the studies presented in this paper have been used to develop improved designs of barrels for state-of-the-art electromagnetic launcher (EML) systems. Specific improvements and details of how these parameters affect the total EML system are not discussed.