The use of conducting shields for increasing the operating current limit in a rail launcher

A new optimization technique to reduce thermal and repulsive loads in a railgun is described, The structural components (containment conductor) of the railgun were used as an electromagnetic shield to control rail current distribution. In summary, by optimizing the position of the shield in the railgun we were able to greatly reduce the dynamic deformation of the rails and increase the maximum permissible total rail current and the projectile force without heat damage of the rail surface.<>