Rail Erosion and Projectile Diagnostics for an Electro-Magnetic Gun
Abstract
Rail guns will not be introduced to the Navy until there is a means of limiting rail erosion. Erosion occurs when a sliding contact loses electrical contact with the rails. Research for this thesis was centered on combating the rail erosion problem and developing a way to record the voltage drop across the rails of the Naval Post Graduate School's 4-inch Electro-Magnetic Gun. A laser was also added to the rail gun so that the projectile's velocity could be recorded as it exits the gun's barrel. Silver paste was used to coat the grooved rails, thereby establishing a strong electrical contact between the rails and projectile. Results indicate that silver paste limits erosion inflicted on both the rails and projectile, by increasing the electrical contact at the rail-projectile interface. Consistent measurements of the projectile's velocity were also obtained.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA406044
Entities
People
- William E. Culpeper
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School