Pulsed power requirements for electromagnetic launchers

The relatively recent development of very high-energy density pulsed power supplies has motivated a renewed interest in the structural design of electromagnetic launchers. Cascade design electromagnetic launcher pressure vessels offer convenient maintenance access to high wear rate components of the structure while satisfying an unusual combination of electromagnetic, strength, and preloading constraints imposed on the system designer. Analysis for design of such structures focuses on the accurate characterization of fluid-structure interaction under dynamic asymmetric loading.

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Stress Analysis for Design of Electromagnetic Launchers

Journal of Vibration and Acoustics ◽

10.1115/1.3269532 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 110 (3) ◽

pp. 395-400 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

E. P. Fahrenthold ◽

D. R. Peterson ◽

J. H. Price ◽

A. Y. Wu

Keyword(s):

Structural Analysis ◽

Stress Analysis ◽

Pulsed Power ◽

Power Supplies ◽

High Current ◽

Stress Concentrations ◽

Electromagnetic Launchers ◽

Electromagnetic Launcher ◽

Order Of Magnitude ◽

Very High

The recent development of very high current pulsed power supplies provides an opportunity for order of magnitude improvements in electromagnetic launcher performance. Consideration of design objectives and constraints suggests that a ceramic-steel construction offers significant advantages over conventional composite-steel railguns. Structural analysis of such a system focuses upon material specific stress concentrations produced by dynamic and asymmetric electromagnetic loads.

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Design, Construction, and Testing of an 80-kJ and 2.4-MJ/m3 Inductive Pulsed Power Module for Electromagnetic Launchers

IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science ◽

10.1109/tps.2019.2958610 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 48 (1) ◽

pp. 285-290 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Xinjie Yu ◽

Hao Sun ◽

Xukun Liu ◽

Jin Li ◽

Zhen Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pulsed Power ◽

Power Module ◽

Electromagnetic Launchers ◽

Design Construction

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Mechanical Design of Small-Bore Electromagnetic Launchers

Journal of Pressure Vessel Technology ◽

10.1115/1.2928733 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 113 (1) ◽

pp. 92-101

Author(s):

A. K. Thakore ◽

E. P. Fahrenthold

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Performance ◽

Mechanical Design ◽

Pressure Vessels ◽

Pulsed Power ◽

Power Supplies ◽

Fatigue Reliability ◽

Electromagnetic Launchers ◽

Design Changes ◽

Low Modulus ◽

Fast Fracture

The development of special-purpose pressure vessels for small-bore, high-velocity electromagnetic launchers has characteristically employed low modulus composites and bolted steel frames. Such designs exhibit low structural stiffness, particularly at high operating currents. Although these designs can be modified to improve mechanical performance, numerical modeling results indicate that basic changes are needed to allow operation at the high bore pressures characteristic of newly developed pulsed power supplies. The indicated design changes introduce a requirement for fast fracture and fatigue reliability analysis of low tensile strength ceramic parts.

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