Electromagnetic launch: a review of the U.S. National Program

Fair, H.D.

doi:10.1109/20.559849

Cited by 19 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Railguns have been studied and developed as very high-speed launchers for various applications ranging from military developments, the launch of commercial and military aircraft, the launch of micro-satellites into space and impact-fusion implemented by acceleration of fusible material. [19][20][21][22][23] It consists in injecting a high current into a sliding armature inserted between two rails. This high current generates a strong magnetic field that interacts with the current that forms it to provide a Laplace force that applies on the sliding armature and thus provokes its propulsion, as shown in Fig.…”

Section: Brief Theory and Paradigmmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Development of a low voltage railgun in the context of a swept lightning stroke on an aircraft

Andraud

Martins

Zaepffel

et al. 2022

Review of Scientific Instruments

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When aircraft are struck by lightning, the aircraft’s structural fuselage and components are stressed by electrical and thermo-mechanical constraints, which imposes a need for reliable experimental test benches to design accurate and enhanced lightning protection. In order to reproduce the in-flight conditions of an aircraft in a laboratory, the aim of this work is to design and implement launch equipment able to propel aeronautical test samples at speeds characteristic of an aircraft— from 10 m/s for ultra-light gliders to 100 m/s for airliners—before striking it with an electric arc within the laboratory dimensions of several meters. After a comparison of several propulsion techniques, the selected solution is an augmented electromagnetic railgun launcher. Since it requires the injection of a high current to be efficient and a low voltage operative point for safety considerations, specific and original electric generator and rail structures have been designed and experimentally implemented. Particular attention has been paid to the experimental problems encountered and mainly the sliding contact, since almost no literature references are available for railgun equipment at this level of performance. Then, based on different experimental implementations, a dynamic and ballistic model of the projectile has been developed to evaluate and characterize friction forces with the aim of predicting launcher performances with different inputs. This serves to control the speed of the material test sample during the lightning strike. Finally, the railgun equipment has been coupled to a lightning generator to reproduce the lightning strike of an aircraft respecting in-flight conditions.

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Section: Brief Theory and Paradigmmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An example of adjustment is represented in Fig. (19) for shot n°1. Table II summarizes the results of the analyzed shots.…”

Section: Fig 18mentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of a low voltage railgun in the context of a swept lightning stroke on an aircraft

Andraud

Martins

Zaepffel

et al. 2022

Review of Scientific Instruments

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“…Moreover, its position and role in weapon systems are determined by its function and sensitivity. Its safety and reliability can directly impact the safety and reliability of weapon systems [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Equivalent Test Method for Strong Electromagnetic Field Radiation Effect of EED

Wang

Sun²,

Wang

et al. 2021

International Journal of Antennas and Propagation

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The present study proposed the equivalent test method for the strong electromagnetic field radiation of electric explosive devices (EEDs) of the weapon equipment to satisfy the military requirements of the electromagnetic radiation safety test, as well as the evaluation of the electric ignition, the electric initiation ammunition, or missiles. Under stable conditions, the ignition excitation test and the bridge wire temperature increase test were performed to determine the ignition temperature of the EED. As radiated by the strong electromagnetic field, the relationship between the temperature increase of the bridge wire and the electric field intensity of the EED was developed based on the theoretical analysis and the experimental test. Given the ignition temperature of the EED, the radiation field intensity of the EED at 50% ignition was determined. As compared with the 50% ignition field intensity of the EED directly radiated by the strong electromagnetic field, an error less than 1 dB was caused. On that basis, the correctness of the equivalent test method was verified. Accordingly, this method was suggested to act as an effective method and technical means to test and evaluate the electromagnetic radiation safety of ammunition and missiles in unfavorable electromagnetic environments.

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“…In terms of weapons applications, in 1978, the US Department of Defense established a national advisory committee and technical department for evaluating electromagnetic railgun research. The Armaments, Research, Development, and Engineering Center (ARDEC) and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) have become the main sponsor for research on electromagnetic railgun technology by research institutions [13], and research on electromagnetic railguns has continuously achieved new results [14]- [25]. In December 2010, the US Navy conducted a launch at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) [24], [25], where they successfully accelerated the projectile to an initial velocity of 2500 m/s with a muzzle kinetic energy of 33 MJ [26].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ammunition Reliability Against the Harsh Environments During the Launch of an Electromagnetic Gun: A Review

2019

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Electromagnetic railguns have an advantage over traditional chemical propulsion weapons, in that the projectile can be accelerated to extremely high speeds and effective damage can be achieved. However, during the launch from an electromagnetic railgun, the ammunition will be subject to a harsh environment, including very strong and violently changing electromagnetic fields, high-g acceleration impact, high temperatures, and so on; and thus, the reliability of the fuze is threatened, and the safety and damage effectiveness of the ammunition will be seriously degraded. In this paper, the harsh environment during the launch process is first reviewed, including the experimental data, the modeling, and simulation of the multiphysics fields. In particular, the coupling effect of these multiphysics fields are revealed, which aggravates the extreme environment. Furthermore, this paper reviews the protection of fuzes against strong magnetic fields and high-g impacts from three aspects, namely, materials, devices, and systems, and presents prospects for future research. This review will guide studies on the protection of fuzes and the stability of ammunition, as well as promote the effectiveness of electromagnetic railguns.INDEX TERMS Electromagnetic launching, fuze, reliability, harsh environment of multiphysics fields, electromagnetic shielding, anti-high-g impact technology.

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Electromagnetic launch: a review of the U.S. National Program

Cited by 19 publications

References 16 publications

Development of a low voltage railgun in the context of a swept lightning stroke on an aircraft

Development of a low voltage railgun in the context of a swept lightning stroke on an aircraft

Equivalent Test Method for Strong Electromagnetic Field Radiation Effect of EED

Ammunition Reliability Against the Harsh Environments During the Launch of an Electromagnetic Gun: A Review

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