Structural response of a railgun accelerator

The results of numerical simulation of the bore deformation and barrel dynamics are presented in the paper. The two-dimensional problem of the stress-strained state and dynamics of a multi-layer cylinder under the action of moving load is solved. The algorithm developed is applicable to the problem of the dynamics of the barrels of any cross section. The algorithm is also used to study the dynamics of tensile stresses near the electrode surface. A hypothesis is proposed that the dynamics of the barrel and tensile stresses may be among the reasons for the melt "shaking-off" inside the bore which may result in secondary breakdown. If this effect takes place, it may be one of the fundamental physical factors limiting the kinematic characteristics of railguns.<
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