Melting Distribution of Armature in Electromagnetic Rail Launcher

This article established a 3-D transient melting calculation model of the electromagnetic rail launcher (EMRL), considering the combined effects of electromagnetic fields, structural fields, heat transfer, and armature motion. To verify the accuracy of the multiphysics field coupling model, an experiment platform of EMRL that is capable of retrieving the launched armature is set up. Compared with the armature surface profiles obtained from the experiment, the simulation model describes the locations of deeper melting accurately but is not precise enough for the shallower melting. Through analyzing the evolution of the melting region, it is found that the deepest crater forms at the point where the armature begins to melt. Analysis of the heat sources shows that contact resistance heat and body heat are two critical factors in the process of armature melting. Despite the high power of the frictional heat, there is no melting in the region where it exists. It is proven that the proposed model can predict the melting performance of the armature.