skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Effect of in-bore gas on railgun performance

Abstract

Acceleration of a projectile in a non-evacuated railgun bore produces a series of shock waves traveling through the gas in front of the projectile which retards the projectile's motion. In this paper, a model is presented which describes the three components of this retarding force - the force required to accelerate the gas to the projectile velocity as it is entrained by the shock front, the force required to continue to accelerate previously shocked gas as the projectile accelerates, and the force required to overcome the viscous drag which arises from the interaction of the shocked gas and the gun tube. We address the relative contributions of the three components of the force and the significance of the retarding force when compared to the net accelerating force.

Authors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. Science Applications International Corp., Shalimar, FL (US)
  2. Science Applications International Corp., Marietta, GA (US)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
5522001
Report Number(s):
CONF-9004136-
Journal ID: ISSN 0018-9464; CODEN: IEMGA
Resource Type:
Conference
Journal Name:
IEEE Transactions on Magnetics (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 27:1; Conference: 5. IEEE symposium on electromagnetic launcher technology, Destin, FL (United States), 1-5 Apr 1990; Journal ID: ISSN 0018-9464
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; Fu; 43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS; GASES; CHEMICAL COMPOSITION; INTERACTIONS; RAILGUN ACCELERATORS; PERFORMANCE TESTING; SHOCK WAVES; AIR; COMPUTER CALCULATIONS; DRAG; HELIUM; KINETICS; PLASMA ACCELERATION; PLASMA GUNS; PROJECTILES; TRAVELLING WAVES; ACCELERATION; ACCELERATORS; ELEMENTS; FLUIDS; NONMETALS; RARE GASES; TESTING; 700460* - Fusion Technology- Heating & Fueling Systems; Fuels- (1992); 430303 - Particle Accelerators- Experimental Facilities & Equipment

Citation Formats

Rolader, G E, and Batteh, J H. Effect of in-bore gas on railgun performance. United States: N. p., 1991. Web.
Rolader, G E, & Batteh, J H. Effect of in-bore gas on railgun performance. United States.
Rolader, G E, and Batteh, J H. 1991. "Effect of in-bore gas on railgun performance". United States.
@article{osti_5522001,
title = {Effect of in-bore gas on railgun performance},
author = {Rolader, G E and Batteh, J H},
abstractNote = {Acceleration of a projectile in a non-evacuated railgun bore produces a series of shock waves traveling through the gas in front of the projectile which retards the projectile's motion. In this paper, a model is presented which describes the three components of this retarding force - the force required to accelerate the gas to the projectile velocity as it is entrained by the shock front, the force required to continue to accelerate previously shocked gas as the projectile accelerates, and the force required to overcome the viscous drag which arises from the interaction of the shocked gas and the gun tube. We address the relative contributions of the three components of the force and the significance of the retarding force when compared to the net accelerating force.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5522001}, journal = {IEEE Transactions on Magnetics (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States)},
issn = {0018-9464},
number = ,
volume = 27:1,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991},
month = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991}
}

Conference:
Other availability
Please see Document Availability for additional information on obtaining the full-text document. Library patrons may search WorldCat to identify libraries that hold this conference proceeding.

Save / Share: