Magnetic design for structural stiffness: the tailored railgun

It is pointed out that tailoring the magnetic design of a railgun to nullify the rail-repulsion load greatly simplifies railgun structural design. Hydraulically assembled tailored railguns are inherently stiffer, lighter, and less expensive, and, for arc-driven railguns, well-suited to accommodate effective plasma seals. Stiffness affects the performance of both solid armature and plasma armature railguns. The important stiffness-related factors are summarized and discussed in detail.<
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