Optimal Utilization of Railgun

N. R. Mahajan[1], S. B. Patel[1], Z. A. Khan[1]
[1]Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
Published in 2012

Railgun is an electrically-powered gun that accelerates a conductive projectile along magnetic metal rails. Various factors increase the projectile velocity. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. While increasing the projectile velocity, one has to keep in mind the longevity of the rail guns for practical use . Railguns are often damaged after few uses due to the extreme working conditions,reducing their life span drastically. Some of the problems encountered are Velocity Skin effect, Electro migration and flux leakage. We try and provide solutions to some of these problems. We also formulate a theoretical limitation on the current density in the gun. All these factors when simultaneously addressed would increase the life span of the rail gun.