A Novel Inductive Gradient Calculation Method for Electromagnetic Rail Launcher and Its Optimization

The electromagnetic rail launch (EMRL) system has gained widespread adoption across both civilian and military sectors, attributable to its exceptional capability to generate substantial kinetic energy and its precision in control. The inductance gradient is one of the vital parameters that judge and impact the EMRL launching performance. Existing studies overlook or inadequately account for the skinning effect at the high-frequency current. This study introduces a novel approach for calculating the inductance gradient using a four-corner splitting (FCS) method. The method considers the skinning and proximity effects, enhancing the accuracy and consistency of the calculated results. Comparative analyses were conducted among the FCS, Kerrisk, and Batteh methods at different frequencies and sizes to verify their precision and coherence. Furthermore, an improved Beluga Whale optimization (BWO) algorithm was proposed to optimize the parameters impacting the inductance gradient. The introduced adaptive coefficients improve the algorithm oscillation and convergence speed, which are more suitable for inductive gradient parameter optimization. The method and findings offer theoretical guidance for optimal design in EMRL systems.