High velocity megampere sliding contact problems in electromagnetic launchers

Laminated armatures have been studied theoretically and experimentally with a high resistance material on the high field side to increase the current skin-depth and limited improvements have been achieved. Present studies are concerned with laminated resistive rails. Here the thickness and properties of the resistive `skin´ are critical if the increased rail overheating is to be avoided and adequate skin-depths in both the rail and armature are to be achieved simultaneously