Research on High Power Railguns at the Naval Research Laboratory

摘要

The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has initiated a program focusing on railgun bore materials science. The objective of the program is to study the conditions in a high power railgun barrel during launch. An 11-MJ prime energy, 6-m long, 5-cm bore diameter railgun is being built for testing. This laboratory launcher will be used to study sliding contacts under the extreme current, temperature, and pressure conditions found in a high power railgun. Real time diagnostics coupled with extensive post-shot materials analysis will be used to understand railgun operation. Results will be compared with other high power railguns.