The projectile-wall interface in rail launchers

At sufficiently high velocity, an energetic gaseous interface is formed between the projectile and the gun wall. The authors analyze the flow in this interface in the regime of moderately high velocity. The effect of this gaseous interface is to push the gun wall radially outward and shrink the proj...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE transactions on magnetics 1993-01, Vol.29 (1), p.1213-1218
Main Authors: Thio, Y.C., Huerta, M.A., Boynton, G.C., Tidman, D.A., Wang, S.Y., Winsor, N.K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Counting circuits
Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering
Exact sciences and technology
Friction
Mechanical engineering. Machine design
Miscellaneous
Plasmas
Polymers
Projectiles
Railguns
Rails
Surface treatment
Temperature
Various equipment and components
Viscosity
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Summary:At sufficiently high velocity, an energetic gaseous interface is formed between the projectile and the gun wall. The authors analyze the flow in this interface in the regime of moderately high velocity. The effect of this gaseous interface is to push the gun wall radially outward and shrink the projectile radially inward. It is shown that significant plasma blow-by can be expected in most experimental railguns in which organic polymers are used as insulators. Since plasma leakage may result in the reduction of propulsion pressure and possibly induce the separation of the primary, the results point to the importance of having sufficiently stiff barrels and structurally stiff but ballistically compliant projectile designs.< >
ISSN:0018-9464
1941-0069
DOI:10.1109/20.195755