Design and testing of solid armatures for large-bore railguns

Author

Price, J.H. ; Fulcher, C.W.G. ; Ingram, M.W. ; Perkins, D.E. ; Peterson, D.R. ; Zowarka, R.C. ; Pappas, J.A.

Author_Institution

Center for Electromech., Texas Univ., Austin, TX, USA

Volume

25

Issue

1

fYear

1989

fDate

1/1/1989 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

467

Lastpage

473

Abstract

A solid metal railgun armature called the Fishbone has been designed and tested at significant velocity, in both square- and round-bore configurations. The name `fishbone´ describes a structure consisting of multiple, independent, compliant contacts. Primary measures of success are low muzzle voltage and post-shot bore integrity. Experiments at armature velocities in excess of 1.9 km/s have resulted in smooth muzzle voltage traces with peak values of 50 to 100 V and negligible bore damage. Design and performance issues important to the successful launch of a solid armature and the features of the Fishbone that address them are discussed. These issues include contact maintenance and gun stiffness, armature compliance, wear, thermal and structural integrity and materials selection. Shot data included are current, velocity, muzzle voltage, and post-mortem physical analysis

Keywords

electromagnetic launchers; testing; 50 to 100 V; Fishbone; armature compliance; armature velocities; contact maintenance; current; design; gun stiffness; large-bore railguns; low muzzle voltage; materials selection; performance; physical analysis; post-shot bore integrity; round bore; solid armatures; square bore; structural integrity; testing; wear; Boring; Heating; Power supplies; Projectiles; Railguns; Rails; Railway engineering; Solids; Testing; Voltage;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.22583

Filename

22583