Multi-rail barrel design and performance

Author

Maas, Brian L. ; Bauer, David P. ; Challita, Antonios

Author_Institution

IAP Res. Inc., Dayton, OH, USA

Volume

29

Issue

1

fYear

1993

fDate

1/1/1993 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

467

Lastpage

471

Abstract

It is pointed out that railgun barrels containing multiple isolated rail pairs can be used to control armature current distribution and/or to obtain independent circuits for use with specialized power supplies. Armature current control can be used to effectively distribute acceleration forces for improved projectile launch. Independent rail load circuits are attractive for use with some power supplies such as a polyphase compulsator. A 30 mm barrel containing three distinct rail pairs has been built and tested. These three rail pairs were powered by separate power supplies. The authors describe issues associated with multirail barrel design and the present barrel design and performance. Rail alignment, isolation, and construction are described. The effect of multiple rail pairs on the effective inductance gradient of the barrel is described, and test results are provided

Keywords

electromagnetic launchers; power supplies to apparatus; projectiles; pulsed power technology; 30 mm; armature current distribution; inductance gradient; multi-rail barrel railgun; multiple isolated rail pairs; polyphase compulsator; power supplies; projectile launch; rail alignment; rail load circuits; Acceleration; Boring; Circuits; Current distribution; Inductance; Packaging; Power supplies; Railguns; Rails; Shape;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.195620

Filename

195620