Design and development of extremely high velocity electromagnetic launch accelerators-GEDI program

Author

Upshaw, J.L. ; Zowarka, R.C. ; Cook, R.W. ; Weeks, D.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

568

Lastpage

573

Abstract

Research is described that has centered around 1, 2, or 8 m long, 12.7 mm square-bore railguns powered by one or more of the following power supplies: a 1 MJ capacitor-bank-driven, pulse-forming network; a 6 MJ homopolar-generator (HPG)-charged coaxial inductor; or one or more of six 10 MJ Balcones-HPG-charged coaxial inductors. Several variations of the 1 and 2 m-long railguns were designed, fabricated, and tested. Railgun design parameters, development, and some test results are described. Parameters of primary importance in designs include sidewall insulator and rail materials; gun length and outer structure materials; stiffness and strength; ease of assembly and disassembly; and availability of methods for supporting, straightening, and honing the guns. Both static and dynamic aspects of railgun structural behavior are discussed

Keywords

electromagnetic launchers; homopolar generators; power capacitors; power inductors; power supplies to apparatus; pulsed power technology; 1 MJ; 10 MJ; 6 MJ; Balcones-HPG-charged coaxial inductors; capacitor-bank-driven; design parameters; extremely high velocity electromagnetic launch accelerators; gun length; homopolar-generator; outer structure materials; pulse-forming network; rail materials; sidewall insulator; square-bore railguns; stiffness; strength; test results; Acceleration; Boring; Coaxial components; Electromagnetic launching; Inductors; Life estimation; Pulsed power supplies; Railguns; Rails; Testing;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.22602

Filename

22602