Transient Analysis of a Railgun with Permanent Magnets Support

The calculation and measurement results of transients for an electrodynamic accelerator with permanent magnet support have been presented in this paper. The calculations have been made using the magnetostatic model in the Maxwell software, as well as using a Matlab/Simulink transient model. The waves of mechanical parameters (projectile velocity and acceleration, force) and electric ones (excitation current and capacitor voltage) have been analyzed for different supply conditions (voltage value, capacitance). The efficiency and projectile energy have been studied as well. The mathematical models have been verified experimentally using the original laboratory stand. A good conformity between calculation and measurement results has been obtained.