A theoretical and experimental study of the electromagnetic environment surrounding a magnetic induction launcher

Electromagnetic (EM) field measurements were conducted near a prototype system that launches metal plates via EM induction. These plates are intended to augment a vehicle's passive armor by intercepting incoming kinetic energy (KE) projectiles some distance away from the vehicle. The subscale EM induction launcher consists of two 4.5-turn, 15 cm square spiral coils machined from 1.27 cm thick copper-beryllium plate. This type of system is designed to launch a 15 cm square aluminum plate in an edge-on orientation as was done for an earlier design (see W. Coburn, C. Le, and H. Martin, US Army Research Laboratory Report ARL-MR-206, April 1995), both the short-term magnetic fields associated with the launch process and the long-term electric fields associated with the flying plate were measured. A theoretical model designed to simulate the magnetic fields surrounding the launcher has been developed and its results compare favorably with measured data.