Design, fabrication, and testing of a scalable series augmented railgun research platform
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Authors
Black, Brian C.
Subjects
Advisors
Maier, William B.
McNelley, Terry R.
Date of Issue
2006-03
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
The design and material properties of rails and projectiles are critical to the success of the Navy railgun. This thesis addresses the design, fabrication, and testing of a scalable square bore electromagnetic railgun. This railgun is designed to permit series augmented operation, and incorporates disposable rail liners to facilitate investigating the suitability of variousrail materials. A series of shots has demonstrated performance consistent with theoretical modeling, including significant performance enhancement as a result of both slotted rail geometry and augmentation over solid rail and un-augmented configurations. A capacitor based stored energy supply input of 35 kJ resulted in a measured velocity of 294 m/s for an 11.4 gram projectile. Suggestions are provided for future power supply configurations, rail materialsand surface treatments, and a variety of armature geometries.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Mechanical and Astronautical Engineering (MAE)
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
xiv, 119 p. : ill. (cheifly col.) ;
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.