Performances of a Large Scale Quadrupole Railgun

A large scale quadrupole magnetic field rail launcher is investigated on the basis of its current distribution, propulsive force and rail's mechanical properties. The finite element method is adopted to determine the launcher's current distribution and the proximity effect. Based on these, the launcher's propulsive force is calculated and compared with other concept railguns. Then the electromagnetic-structural coupling analysis method is used to further explore the rail's mechanical performance under the action of electromagnetic forces. The results show that the large scale quadrupole railgun's propulsive force is substantially increased and its current proximity effect is alleviated compared with the small bore concept, while its rails suffer relatively light stresses and uniform deformations. These performances indicate that the large scale quadrupole railgun could not only overcome some shortcomings of the small bore quadrupole railgun, but also retain its merits; therefore, it will be a good choice for the massive projectile launch.