Effect of a transient current profile on the dynamics of railgun arcs

A one-dimensional, time-dependent model for describing transient behavior in railgun plasma armatures is used to investigate the effects produced by a time-varying current profile. Ablation from the rail surface is also accounted for. The governing equations are solved numerically to produce as a function of time and space the electrodynamic and thermodynamic properties of the arc. These quantities are shown to be considerably different from those predicted by commonly used quasi-static models. The importance of these transient effects and how they can affect the design of projectiles and the analysis of diagnostic data are discussed.<
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