Control of Surface Melting and Ablation in Electromagnetic Launchers via the Magnetic Vapor Shielding Mechanism
Abstract
The project has been successful in designing, constructing and operating (over 200 shots) the proof-of-principle experiment SIRENS to simulate the exposure of material surfaces to high heat fluxes under EM and ET launchers conditions. The vapor shield concept has been experimentally verified and the energy transmission factor through the vapor shield varies from 20% to 5% as the heat flux increases. Different material surfaces were tested which revealed that the metallic surfaces have strong axial direction. The heat flux is found to be approximately constant along the barrel axis, with an average plasma velocity of 10 - 12 km/s. Multiple exposure of material surfaces showed that about 190 exposures (at 1 kJ input energy) causes an increase of 20% in the inner bore diameter. There is initial indications of a reduction in ablation with applied magnetic fields above 5 Tesla, for insulator materials (Lexan).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 31, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA219035
Entities
People
- John G. Gilligan
Organizations
- North Carolina State University