Accession Number:

ADA188735

Title:

Structural Integrity of Metallic Armature Rail Guns.

Descriptive Note:

Final rept.,

Corporate Author:

ARMY ARMAMENT RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING CENTER WATERVLIET NY BENE T WEAPONS LAB

Personal Author(s):

• O'Hara, G. P.
• Cascio, M.

Report Date:

1987-11-01

Pagination or Media Count:

28.0

Abstract:

The design of a rail system for an electromagnetic gun becomes more complicated when the transfer from a laboratory to a tactical system is considered. In the laboratory, weight and volume are not important and the system must be bolted together in order to be disassembled for study, modification, and repair. The tactical system must be of reasonable weight and volume, self supporting, safe to use, have a long life, and be factory assembled. This set of design requirements must be reconciled with the function as a projectile guide and an electrical conductor. The first crude prototype barrel must be manufactured from available materials which do not have the optimum properties. The design then becomes a series of compromises which are performed in the hope of a successful result. Keywords Rail gun, Electromagnetic, Launcher, Composite, Structure.

Descriptors:

• *ARMATURES
• *ELECTRIC GUNS
• *HYPERVELOCITY GUNS
• ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS
• ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
• LONG LIFE
• METALS
• RELIABILITY
• REPAIR
• REQUIREMENTS
• STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES
• PLASMAS(PHYSICS)

Subject Categories:

• Electricity and Magnetism

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE