Development of an advanced electromagnetic gun barrel

Author

Hurn, T.W. ; Aoust, J.D. ; Sevier, L. ; Johnson, R. ; Wesley, J.

Author_Institution

General Atomics, San Diego, CA, USA

Volume

29

Issue

1

fYear

1993

fDate

1/1/1993 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

837

Lastpage

842

Abstract

An advanced electromagnetic gun (AEMG) barrel was developed for the US Air Force Wright Laboratory (Armament Directorate) to repetitively accelerate large mass projectiles. The AEMG barrel used 5-m rails, had a 50-mm square bore, and was designed to operate at a peak current of 1.5 MA (bore pressure 25 ksi). Key technical achievements included (1) an efficient barrel containment structure that weighs approximately 25% of a similarly rated clamped barrel; (2) an insulator material that retains surface resistivity after repeated firings; and (3) a high-velocity water cooling system designed to remove a peak heat flux of 5 MJ/m² per shot. A 2-m prototype of the AEMG barrel was tested in a 4-MJ electromagnetic launcher test facility

Keywords

electromagnetic launchers; weapons; 1.5 MA; 160 MPa; 2 m; 4 MJ; 5 m; 50 mm; US Air Force Wright Laboratory (Armament Directorate); advanced electromagnetic gun barrel; barrel containment structure; bore pressure; electromagnetic launcher test facility; heat flux; high-velocity water cooling system; insulator material; large mass projectiles; prototype; repeated firings; square bore; surface resistivity; Acceleration; Boring; Conductivity; Cooling; Electromagnetic forces; Firing; Insulation; Projectiles; Rails; Water heating;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.195685

Filename

195685