The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is investigating electromagnetic (EM) guns for the next generation combat vehicle providing greater range, accuracy, and survivability without the use of propellant. Electromagnetic guns can provide high-fidelity controlled muzzle velocity, which removes the largest source of error in the ballistic terminal phase. A two-year program was initiated in 2005 to design a coilgun and a railgun to launch an existing mortar round with an EM armature in laboratory conditions at speeds to increase range beyond current capabilities. The laboratory induction coilgun discussed in this paper consists of solenoidal coils constrained in a gun barrel structure connected to a gun mount with recoil mechanisms. This mount is similar to what will be needed for future applications and capable of firing at variable elevation angles. The coils are energized sequentially from individual capacitor banks controlled by a firing system that senses the projectile position and velocity for precise muzzle velocity. The laboratory test range includes diagnostics to determine projectile integrity in free-flight before impacting a steel catch box. This paper describes a laboratory coilgun system whose requirements are based on the Future Combat System Mortar Vehicle for indirect fire applications. Minimal adaptation has been necessary to existing mortar rounds with the armature and support structure necessary for EM coilgun launch. High magnetic field coils have been designed and tested at stress levels anticipated during launch. Capacitor bank modules currently in fabrication and test are utilizing existing capacitors, but investigating new ideas in commercial components for switches, resistors and bus-work to lower cost. The firing system, which includes a projectile-sensing 94 GHz radar triggers the capacitor banks for optimal performance and precise muzzle velocity control, is also described..*Sandia is a multiprogram laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a
I. INTRODUCTIONSandia National Laboratories (SNL) and Lockheed A. Overview Martin MS2 are designing an electromagnetic missile Several hybrid/electric military platforms are being launcher (EMML) for naval applications. The EMML developed for future deployment that will provide an uses an induction coilgun topology with the requirement onboard power source capable of driving electromagnetic of launching a 3600 lb. missile up to a velocity of 40 m/s. weapons. Examples of these platforms are the Navy's To demonstrate the feasibility of the electromagnetic DDX electric ship & the Army's Future Combat System propulsion design, a demonstrator launcher was built that (FCS) hybrid ground vehicle. There are many different consists of approximately 10% of the propulsion coils types of electromagnetic weapons including lasers, high needed for a tactical design. The demonstrator verified power microwaves, particle beams, and mass launchers, the design by launching a 1430 lb weighted sled to a all of which have ongoing research to identify their height of 24 ft in mid-December 2004 (Figure 1). This advantages and disadvantages compared to conventional paper provides the general launcher design, specific weapons. Several types of mass launcher topologies exist pulsed power system component details, system including linear synchronous motors (LSM), linear operation, and demonstration results.induction motors (LIM), railguns, and coilguns. The Electromagnetic Missile Launcher (EMML) is a mass launcher using an induction coilgun topology. The EMML electromagnetically imparts kinetic energy into the missile such that it will exit the launcher and maintain aero stability until the main rocket motors are engaged ( Figure 2). The launcher performance parameters are based on launching a Tomahawk type missile with a weight of nearly 3600 lbs. At rocket motor ignition: 31 M1r I 25 M above surface At launch: 40 M/s Figure 1. Demonstrator launcher; Launcher -bottom left; Figure 2. Launch Performance Parameters. Weighted sled and missile form -top middle B. Purpose
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Inductive electromagnetic launchers, or coilguns, use discrete solenoidal coils to accelerate a coaxial conductive armature. To date, Sandia has been using an internally developed code, SLINGSHOT, as a point-mass lumped circuit element simulation tool for modeling coilgun behavior for design and verification purposes. This code has shortcomings in terms of accurately modeling gun performance under stressful electromagnetic propulsion environments. To correct for these limitations, it was decided to attempt to closely couple two Sandia simulation codes, Xyce and ALEGRA, to develop a more rigorous simulation capability for demanding launch applications. This report summarizes the modifications made to each respective code and the path forward to completing interfacing between them.
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