High performance ram accelerator research

Some applications for ram acceleration require high projectile accelerations or energy increases within constrained tube lengths. This may be accomplished through increased combustion pressure, increased propellant chemical energy, and/or optimized projectile geometry. Taken together these items serve to enhance overall ram accelerator performance. In addition, reduction of overall accelerator length can be accomplished by reducing accelerator entrance velocity requirements and by eliminating unnecessary components such as vent sections. This paper summarizes these effects and presents continuing large caliber experimental efforts towards developing “high performance” ram accelerators.