Causes of Damage at Electromagnetic Railgun’s Initial Position and Corresponding Improvement Measures

Damage at an electromagnetic railgun's initial position during launch affects the life of the rail and launcher as well as the launch speed and efficiency. Therefore, this study investigated such damage through electromagnetic railgun experiments. Analyses of metallographic specimens and surface composition as well as 3-D scanning and reconstruction of damaged parts indicate that the damage is a thermal effect mainly caused by transition ablation. Transition ablation problems caused by insufficient initial contact pressure, large rail spacing, and insufficient rail strength are analyzed and corresponding improvement measures are suggested. Finally, the effectiveness of these measures is verified through experiments to guide the design, manufacture, and application of electromagnetic railguns.