Title :
Measurements at the ISL-EMA 1 railgun facility
Author :
Wey, J. ; Peter, H.
Author_Institution :
French-German Res. Inst., Saint-Louis, France
fDate :
1/1/1991 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
The instrumentation of a 500 kJ, 15 mm-bore-diameter railgun and the power switching are described in detail. Emphasis is on electrooptical measurement techniques. The results presented include electrical measurements on the switching circuit, breech and muzzle voltages, and projectile position. In addition, material problems concerning rail erosion with plasma-driven projectiles are discussed. After ten shots with peak currents up to 600 kA, rails and insulators were fully operational. The rail material loss has been tolerable. The surface roughness increased remarkably, due to the formation of a porous, heterogeneous, nearly insulating surface layer of variable thickness
Keywords :
electromagnetic launchers; plasma devices; projectiles; switches; velocity measurement; voltage measurement; 15 mm; 500 kJ; 600 kA; ISL-EMA 1 railgun facility; Institute Saint-Louis; breech; electrooptical measurement techniques; heterogeneous surface layer; instrumentation; muzzle voltages; nearly insulating surface layer; plasma-driven projectiles; porous surface layer; power switching; projectile position; rail erosion; rail material loss; surface roughness; switching circuit; Electric variables measurement; Instruments; Insulation; Measurement techniques; Plasma measurements; Projectiles; Railguns; Rails; Rough surfaces; Surface roughness;
Journal_Title :
Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on
