Numerical Analysis of the Transient Inductance Gradient of Electromagnetic Launcher Using 2-D and 3-D Finite-Element Methods

We present analyses of the transient inductance gradient of an electromagnetic launcher with the sliding contact between rails and armature. When the armature moves along the rails, electrical current concentrates on the contact trailing edge of the armature due to the velocity skin effect, affecting input current spreading into the rail. This effect also induces the temporal variation of inductan...