Synergy of Melt-Wave and Electromagnetic Force on the Transition Mechanism in Electromagnetic Launch

Synergy of melting wave and electromagnetic force on the transition mechanism is studied in this paper. The 3-D electromagnetic field, temperature field, and structure field coupling model are established to simulate the velocity skin effect and melting wave phenomenon. It is found that the melting wave and electromagnetic force together lead to the occurrence of transition. And the two are inextricably linked. The melting wave will enlarge the separating electromagnetic force on the armature trailing arm. The separating electromagnetic force may result in the reduction of contact area, which would accelerate the melting wave. It is getting worse and worse, eventually lead to the transition. And the analytical results are consistent with the experimental phenomena. The transition prediction method will be more accurate when combining the melt-wave and the electromagnetic force.

[1]  Paul B. Parks.  Current melt‐wave model for transitioning solid armature , 1990 .

[2]  Scott Levinson,et al.  Numerical modeling of the velocity skin effects: an investigation of issues affecting accuracy [in railguns] , 2001 .

[3]  Jump conditions for Maxwell equations and their consequences , 2013 .

[4]  Long Chen.  FINITE ELEMENT METHOD , 2013 .

[5]  F. Stefani,et al.  The effect of current and speed on perimeter erosion in recovered armatures , 2005, IEEE Transactions on Magnetics.

[6]  S. Satapathy,et al.  IAT Armature Development , 2011, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[7]  Sikhanda Satapathy,et al.  Numerical modeling of melt-wave erosion in conductors [railgun armatures] , 2003 .

[8]  I. R. McNab,et al.  Magnetic blow-off in armature transition , 2003 .

[9]  D. J. Hildenbrand,et al.  Computer modeling and prediction of solid armature contact wear and transitioning in electromagnetic guns , 1997 .

[10]  Sikhanda Satapathy,et al.  Electrodynamic transition in solid armature railguns , 2001 .

[11]  John P. Barber,et al.  A survey of armature transition mechanisms , 2003 .

[12]  E. M. Drobyshevski,et al.  Physics of solid armature launch transition into arc mode , 2001 .

[13]  H. Vanicek,et al.  Down-Slope Contact Transition in Railguns , 2007, IEEE Transactions on Magnetics.

[14]  Preliminary Study of Space–Time Finite-Element Eddy-Current Analysis , 2016, IEEE Transactions on Magnetics.

[15]  T. E. James,et al.  Contact pressure distribution and transition in solid armatures [EM launchers] , 2001 .

[16]  Arcing phenomena in transitioned solid armatures , 1997 .

[17]  F. Stefani,et al.  Experiments to measure melt-wave erosion in railgun armatures , 2003 .

[18]  Kuo-Ta Hsieh.  Numerical study on groove formation of rails for various materials , 2005, IEEE Transactions on Magnetics.