The projectile-wall interface in rail launchers

• Published in: IEEE transactions on magnetics Vol. 29; no. 1; pp. 1213 - 1218
• Main Authors: Thio, Y.C., Huerta, M.A., Boynton, G.C., Tidman, D.A., Wang, S.Y., Winsor, N.K.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01-01-1993; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• 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; Gun; Plasma; Solid dielectric; Insulator; Wall; Interaction; Rail accelerator; Leak; Propulsion; Polymer; Launching; Projectile
• ISSN: 0018-9464; 1941-0069
• DOI: 10.1109/20.195755

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.< >