Numerical predictions of railgun performance including the effects of ablation and arc drag

Journal Article · Sat Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · IEEE Trans. Magn.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/TMAG.1986.1064651· OSTI ID:5732625

Schnurr, N M; Kerrisk, J F; Parker, J V

Thermal radiation from plasma armatures in railguns may cause vaporization and partial ionization of the rail and insulator materials. This causes an increase in mass of the arc, which has an adverse effect on projectile velocity. Viscous drag on the arc also has a deleterious effect, particularly at high velocities. Simulations were performed and numerical results were compared with experimental data for a wide range of test performed at the Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories, the Ling Temco Vought Aerospace and Defense Company, and the Center for Electromechanics at the University of Texas at Austin. The effects of ablation and arc drag on railgun performance are discussed. Some strategies for reducing the effects of ablation are proposed.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., P.O. Box 1663, Los Alamos, NM 87545
• OSTI ID: 5732625
• Journal Information: IEEE Trans. Magn.; (United States), Journal Name: IEEE Trans. Magn.; (United States) Vol. MAG-22:6; ISSN IEMGA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420800* -- Engineering-- Electronic Circuits & Devices-- (-1989)
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990220 -- Computers
Computerized Models
& Computer Programs-- (1987-1989)
ABLATION
ACCELERATORS
ARMATURES
COMPUTER CODES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DATA ANALYSIS
DRAG
ELECTRICAL INSULATION
IONIZATION
LASL
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PERFORMANCE
RAILGUN ACCELERATORS
SIMULATION
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
THERMAL INSULATION
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS