Small-bore hypervelocity Electromagnetic Launcher research facility
Abstract
A small-bore hypervelocity Electromagnetic Launcher laboratory research facility has been developed which has launched a 2-g projectile to a velocity in excess of 3.5 km/sec. This turn-key laboratory includes a 1 cm, square-bore railgun with a helium gas preaccelerator; a modular 328 kJ capacitor bank; a fiber-optically linked programmable logic control system with a graphical operator interface; a data acquisition system with current, magnetic, and projectile position diagnostics; and a flight range which provides in-flight velocity measurements and safely stops and contains the projectile. The control system fires the preaccelerator and, on receipt of an optical signal, fires the capacitor bank modules simultaneously or in a staggered mode. Armature separation and stalling limit the overall performance of the system. Changes in pulse shape and bore materials significantly improved performance. Attention is given to methods used to minimize armature separation and improve performance.
- Publication:
-
IEEE Transactions on Magnetics
- Pub Date:
- January 1993
- DOI:
- 10.1109/20.195612
- Bibcode:
- 1993ITM....29..425H
- Keywords:
-
- Electromagnetic Acceleration;
- Gun Launchers;
- Hypervelocity Launchers;
- Railgun Accelerators;
- Armatures;
- Control Systems Design;
- Data Acquisition;
- Fiber Optics;
- Graphical User Interface;
- Test Equipment;
- Electronics and Electrical Engineering