Transient response of coaxial pulse coils

Of central importance in designing coaxial launcher systems is understanding the mechanical response and structual limits of the magnetic pulse coils. In normal operation the driving frequency can vary from static conditions through the lowest natural modes to well beyond the highest frequencies. By using a lumped parameter model the transient behavior of a magnetic pulse coil can be readily characterized. In an effort to understand the failure mechanism of coaxial pulse coils the results of this model are compared to the experimental performance of several thin build coils.