Use of a two-stage light-gas gun as an injector for electromagnetic railguns

Journal Article · Sat Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1988 · IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Transactions on Magnetics; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/20.22592· OSTI ID:5610320

Shahinpoor, M ^[1]; Asay, J R; Konrad, C H; Hall, C A ^[2]

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1. New Mexico Univ., Albuquerque, NM (USA). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
2. Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)

Ablation of wall materials is known to be a major factor limiting the performance of railguns. To minimize this effect, it is desirable too inject projectiles into railgun at velocities greater than the ablation threshold velocity (6-8 km/s for copper rails). Because two-stage light-gas guns are capable of achieving such velocities, a program was initiated to design, build and evaluate the performance of a two-stage light gas gun, utilizing hydrogen gas, for use as an injector to an electromagnetic railgun. This effort is part of a project to develop a hypervelocity electromagnetic launcher (HELEOS) for use in equation-of-state studies. In this paper, the specific design features that enhance compatibility of the injector with the railgun, including a slip-joint between the injector launch tube and the coupling section to the railgun are described. The operational capabilities for using all major projectile velocity measuring techniques, such as in-bore pressure gauges, laser and CW x-ray interrupt techniques, flash x-ray and continuous in-bore velocity measurements using VISAR interferometry are also discussed. Finally an internal ballistics code for optimizing gun performance has been utilized to interpret performance data of the gun.

• OSTI ID: 5610320
• Journal Information: IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Transactions on Magnetics; (USA), Journal Name: IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Transactions on Magnetics; (USA) Vol. 25:1; ISSN IEMGA; ISSN 0018-9464
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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