Two-Dimensional Current Diffusion in the Rails of a Railgun

Abstract

We extend a previously developed, two-dimensional model for investigating current and heat transport in railguns. The new model permits the treatment of problems in which there are two components of the magnetic induction and a single component of the current density. In our previous models, there were two components of the current density and only one component of the magnetic induction. The basic mathematical formalism is developed and applied to a two-dimensional configuration in rectangular coordinates. The model is then used to investigate current diffusion into a pair of parallel rails such as might be appropriate in a railgun behind the projectile. The calculations produce the time and spatial distributions of the electromagnetic fields within the rails. Some physical discussion of the results is provided.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2008
Accession Number
ADA493742

Entities

People

  • Alexander E. Zielinski
  • John D. Powell

Organizations

  • United States Army Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Cartesian Coordinates
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Current Density
  • Diffusion
  • Electromagnetic Fields
  • Energy
  • Equations
  • Fluid Mechanics
  • Geometry
  • Heat Energy
  • Heat Of Fusion
  • Magnetic Induction
  • Military Research
  • Specific Heat
  • Standards
  • Thermal Conductivity
  • Two Dimensional

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics
  • ballistics.