Effect of the magnetic materiel on railgun´s electromagnetic field

Magnetic materials can “tow” back the dispersed magnetic lines of force as well as make the magnetic lines on armature distributed evenly, thus the magnetic lines of force as many as possible can affect on armature to increase the total force of armature. The emulations were carried out for square-bore railguns with different magnetic materials in different positions and of different size based on one type of C-shaped armature. In the emulations, Ansoft eddy current field was used and the magnetic saturation effect was neglected. In the same circumstances of same current excitation, the max forces of armature were obtained respectively. Then in Ansoft transient field, taking steel-1008 as the study object and considering magnetic saturation effect, the armature force and distribution of magnetic flux density were studied. It was found that the adding of magnetic material can double the armature force at maximum. The simulation process and results can provide some guide for the design and manufacture of railgun barrel..