Optimization of Launched Parameters of the Railgun with Internal Penalty Function Method

Abstract

The launched speed of projectile is one of the most important parameters in the design of railgun, in order to explore the influence of the launched speed of projectile by the length of rail and the driving current. Therefore, it is meaningful that gets the optimum speed of projectile. In this paper, main resistances (plasma viscous drag, inertial drag and air drag) was full considered in the motion process of plasma armature, and the optimization model includes the speed of the armature,driving current and the length of rail were build,then it was optimization calculated with internal penalty function method. The optimization result shows that the launched speed of projectile is maximum when the driving current and the length of rail are fixed value. The purpose lies in adjusting the width and the length of the rail and the distance between two rails so as to adjust the launched speed of projectile. The result of research laid a theoretical foundation for designing and manufacture of the railguns.