The analysis and modeling of the ARDEC 2.5 km/s 20-mm plasma railgun shot

Author

Sink, D.A. ; Chang, D.I. ; Davis, A. ; Colombo, G. ; Hildenbrand, D.J.

Author_Institution

Science Applications Int. Corp., Denville, NJ, USA

Volume

29

Issue

1

fYear

1993

fDate

1/1/1993 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

511

Lastpage

516

Abstract

The 20-mm round-bore plasma railgun was successfully fired at the ARDEC electric gun facility. The 4-m gun with copper rails and alumina composite insulators was operated using a light-gas gun injector to start the projectile, already located in the gun, moving prior to the introduction of current. Current from the EMACK homopolar generator was commutated into the gun by an explosively actuated opening switch. The muzzle velocity was recorded by breakwires and flash X-rays at 2.5 km/s. B-dot sensors, rail current Rogowski coils, and breech and muzzle voltage measurements provided data on the in-bore dynamics of the armature. Postshot analysis using the ARMRAIL code successfully provided calculations reproducing all the main features of the data. Models account for the observed secondary arcs present throughout the shot, and the basis for the code and physics modeling is given

Keywords

electrical engineering computing; electromagnetic launchers; physics computing; plasma diagnostic techniques; plasma guns; projectiles; 20 mm; 4 m; ARDEC electric gun facility; ARMRAIL code; Al₂O₃; B-dot sensors; Cu; EMACK homopolar generator; alumina composite insulators; armature; breakwires; breech voltage measurement; copper rails; current; explosively actuated opening switch; flash X-rays; in-bore dynamics; light-gas gun injector; muzzle velocity; muzzle voltage measurements; physics modeling; plasma railgun shot; postshot analysis; projectile; rail current Rogowski coils; round-bore plasma railgun; secondary arcs; Coils; Copper; Insulation; Plasmas; Projectiles; Railguns; Rails; Switches; Voltage measurement; X-rays;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.195628

Filename

195628