Barrel Wear Reduction in Rail Guns: An Investigation of Silver Paste Liquid-Metal Interface

Abstract

This thesis tests the effects a commercial silver paste has on the damage at the projectile-rail interface of a 4" long rail gun test section. Projectiles (0.635 x 0.635 x 0.953 cm) were pushed through the rail test section at 34 plus or minus 19 m/s, while average current densities of 18 - 32 kA/cm2 was passed through the projectile - rail interface material. The specific objective is to examine rail and projectile damage at current densities near or above those (^25kA/cm2) anticipated for a naval rail gun. Voltages across the rails were monitored and changes in conductivity when solid electrical contact was broken were observed.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 2002
Accession Number
ADA411065

Entities

People

  • Michael W. Smith Jr

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Anti-Ship Missiles
  • Current Density
  • Detectors
  • Electrical Resistance
  • Electromagnetic Guns
  • Guns
  • Laser Beams
  • Laser Diodes
  • Lasers
  • Liquid Metals
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Power Supplies
  • Projectiles
  • Vacuum Switches
  • Weapons

Readers

  • Plasma Physics.
  • Surface Engineering/Surface Coating Technology.
  • ballistics.