Lightweight high L' electromagnetic launcher

摘要

Methods and apparatus related to design and construction of lightweight and mobile railgun barrels having high L' (inductance per unit length). The barrels comprise stacked metallic annular laminations in combination with prestressed tension elements to add radial and longitudinal stiffness. Laminations have elongated annular shapes to accommodate a plurality of longitudinal rails within the barrel, and the lamination shape is optimized to contain radial forces (tending to spread the rails) associated with the launching of railgun projectiles. Longitudinal stiffness is obtained from tension elements spirally wound around the barrel at a preferred angle with the barrel longitudinal axis. Radial stiffness is obtained by injecting a settable plastic fluid between barrel laminations and internal (bore) components, the latter being held as a subassembly with a longitudinal shrink tube.