The analysis and modeling of the ARDEC 2.5 km/s 20-mm plasma railgun shot

The 20-mm round-bore plasma railgun was successfully fired at the ARDEC electric gun facility. The 4-m gun with copper rails and alumina composite insulators was operated using a light-gas gun injector to start the projectile, already located in the gun, moving prior to the introduction of current. Current from the EMACK homopolar generator was commutated into the gun by an explosively actuated opening switch. The muzzle velocity was recorded by breakwires and flash X-rays at 2.5 km/s. B-dot sensors, rail current Rogowski coils, and breech and muzzle voltage measurements provided data on the in-bore dynamics of the armature. Postshot analysis using the ARMRAIL code successfully provided calculations reproducing all the main features of the data. Models account for the observed secondary arcs present throughout the shot, and the basis for the code and physics modeling is given. >