A MULTI-STAGE DISTRIBUTED ENERGY PLASMA ARC RAILGUN

dc.contributor.committeeChairMankowski, John J.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberGiesselmann, Michael G.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberBayne, Stephen B.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberRasty, Jahan
dc.contributor.committeeMemberMcNab, Ian
dc.contributor.committeeMemberWetz, David A.
dc.creatorKarhi, Ryan W.
dc.date.accessioned2016-11-14T23:11:34Z
dc.date.available2010-12-12T21:41:37Z
dc.date.available2016-11-14T23:11:34Z
dc.date.issued2010-12
dc.degree.departmentElectrical and Computer Engineeringen_US
dc.description.abstractThe development process pertaining to the design, fabrication, coding, and testing of multi-stage distributed energy plasma arc railguns are presented. In collaboration on an Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) funded Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) project, the Center for Pulsed Power and Power Electronics (P3E) at Texas Tech University is responsible for developing and investigating a functional scale model of a multi-stage distributed energy store (DES) railgun to analyze its effectiveness to suppress a restrike phenomenon and increase plasma armature railgun performance [1]. The term “restrike” denotes the formation of an electrical breakdown in the railgun bore some distance behind a traveling plasma armature. The formation of this secondary arc reduces the driving force on the primary armature and has led to a velocity ceiling of approximately 6 km/s on all breech-fed plasma armature railguns. Numerous solutions have been theorized as viable methods of restrike prevention but lack experimental verification. The primary objective of our research team within the MURI effort is to experimentally test Dr. Jerry Parker’s theoretical restrike suppression technique [2] that was developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory in the 1980’s. The project tasks are organized to identify potential problematic issues and verify theoretical concepts before implementation of a full scale system.
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2346/ETD-TTU-2010-12-1222en_US
dc.language.isoeng
dc.rights.availabilityUnrestricted.
dc.subjectRailgunen_US
dc.subjectDistributed energy storeen_US
dc.subjectPlasmaen_US
dc.subjectPlamsa arcen_US
dc.titleA MULTI-STAGE DISTRIBUTED ENERGY PLASMA ARC RAILGUN
dc.typeDissertation

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