Relating a Small-Scale Experiment to a Full-Scale Railgun Using Simulation and Similarity Theory

In this paper, a small-scale experimental method for the study of the dynamic performance of an electromagnetic railgun is proposed. A silicon-based microbeam under electrostatic force was used to simulate the electromagnetic railgun. An experimental model was developed for a set of railgun parameters. On the basis of similarity theory, the natural frequency similarity ratio between the railgun and the experimental model was determined. The excitation and detection circuits of the experimental model were designed and fabricated. Using the experimental model, the natural frequency for the railgun was obtained and compared with the real full-scale one. Results revealed that the small-scale experimental results agreed well with the experimental result of the full-scale railgun. The proposed method can be used to predict the dynamic performance of the full-scale railgun system.