ELECTROMAGNETIC RAILGUN

PROPOSAL

TYME
5th SEMESTER
ACADEMIC YEAR: - 2022-2023
Name of Students Roll No.
Ishan Mulani 1
Aryan Mandaviya 7
Kaif Khan 9
Anirudh Kashyap 22
APPROVED BY:

Mrs. Nehal Muchhala

(Mentor’s Signature) (H.O.D. of ME Department)
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 RATIONALE
Modern day ammunitions such as missiles and rockets are
effective. But there are a few drawbacks to the traditional
missiles. Missiles are explosive projectiles and are very
expensive. Also the storage and maintenance of missiles is
expensive. These problems countered by the modern day
ammunitions are solved by the Electromagnetic Railguns.
Railguns have been proven as a safer launching weaponry
system. The proposed system focuses on launching of a
metallic projectile at high speeds using electromagnetic.
For the aiming of the target a targeting system is designed
which will be mounted upon the railgun setup. It is a very stable
system and does not use any explosive materials in the
projectile or not even in the launching process of the projectiles.
It completely utilizes strong electromagnetic forces which
makes it less expensive as compared to the missiles. Less
technology is used in railguns than missiles. Therefore chances
of having a technological glitch in the launching mechanism are
very less.

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 INTRODUCTION
What is ELECTROMAGNETIC RAILGUN?
A railgun is a linear motor device, typically designed as a
weapon that uses electromagnetic force to launch
high velocity projectiles. The projectile normally does not
contain explosives, instead relying on the projectile's
high speed, mass, and kinetic energy to inflict damage. The
railgun uses a pair of parallel conductors (rails), along which a
sliding armature is accelerated by the electromagnetic effects
of a current that flows down one rail, into the armature and then
back along the other rail. It is based on principles similar to
those of the homopolar motor.

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How Does a Railgun Work?

The basic principle behind a railgun is that it uses an electric

current to create a magnetic field. This allows the railgun to
shoot projectiles made from conductive materials. A rail gun is
basically a large electric circuit, made up of three parts: a
power source, a pair of parallel rails and a moving armature.
Let's look at each of these parts in more detail.

The power supply is simply a source of electric current.

Typically, the current used in medium- to large-calibre rail guns
is in the millions of amps.

The rails are lengths of conductive metal, such as copper.

They can range from four to 30 feet (9 meters) long.

A rail gun is basically a large electric circuit, made up of three

parts: a power source, a pair of parallel rails and a moving
armature. Let's look at each of these parts in more detail.

The power supply is simply a source of electric current.

Typically, the current used in medium- to large-caliber rail guns
is in the millions of amps.

The rails are lengths of conductive metal, such as copper.

They can range from four to 30 feet (9 meters) long.

Railguns are often confused with coil guns, which use

electromagnetic coils to shoot projectiles, but a coil gun can
only launch projectiles that are ferromagnetic(a kind of
magnetism that is associated with iron, cobalt, nickel, and some
alloys or compounds containing one or more of these
elements. ). Here’s an easy way to remember the difference: a
railgun uses parallel rails to shoot metal, and a coil gun uses
coils to shoot magnets.

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 Bibliography and References

1. Basic information about electromagnetic railgun

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railgun

2. Sample record for earth to space electromagnetic railgun

https://www.science.gov/topicpages/e/earth-to-
space+electromagnetic+railgun

3. Small article
http://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1993ITM....29..373B/abstract

4. The insane plan to shoot rocket from rail guns

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR1OeUb6ZA4

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5. Would it work? Railgun assistant launcher
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb6sxy3f7VE

6. Can a 2 inch gun fire a 1 inch bullet?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPti8AJSen0&t=447s

7. Article published by NASA

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20110005535/downloads/201100
05535.pdf

8. Review paper on Electromagnetic Railgun (EMR)

https://www.ijream.org/papers/AMET201927.pdf

9. Working of railgun
https://science.howstuffworks.com/rail-gun1.htm

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 Literature Review
[1] An electromagnetic railgun accelerator
system, for accelerating projectiles by a
plasma arc, introduces a breakdown
inhibiting gas into the railgun chamber
behind the accelerating projectile. The
breakdown inhibiting gas, which absorbs
electrons, is a halide or a halide
compound such as fluorine or SF [sub 6].
The gas is introduced between the railgun
rails after the projectile has passed
through inlets in the rails or the projectile;
by coating the rails or the projectile with a
material which releases the gas after the
projectile passes over it; by fabricating the
rails or the projectile or insulators out of a
material which releases the gas into the
portions of the chamber through which the
projectile has travelled. The projectile may
have a cavity at its rear to control the
release of ablation products.
[2] Processes that accompany the generation
of strong shock waves during the acceleration
of a free plasma piston (PP) in the
electromagnetic railgun channel have been
experimentally studied. The formation of shock
waves in the railgun channel and the motion of
a shock-wave-compressed layer proceed (in
contrast to the case of a classical shock tube)
in a rather strong electric field (up to 300
V/cm). The experiments were performed at the
initial gas pressures in the channel ranging
from 25 to 500 Torr. At 25 Torr, the shock-
wave Mach numbers reached 32 in argon and
16 in helium. At high concentrations of
charged particles behind the shock wave, the
electric field causes the passage of a part of
the discharge current through the volume of
the shock-wave-compressed layer, which
induces intense glow comparable with that of
the PP glow.
-By Bobashev, S. V.; Zhukov, B. G.;
Kurakin, R. O.; Ponyaev, S. A.; Reznikov, B. I.
[4] Electromagnetic acceleration of projectiles
holds the potential for achieving higher
velocities than yet achieved by any other
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-By Hawke, R.S.
[3] Descriptions are given of the following
railgun systems: the fast-
capacitor/inductor system, the slow-
capacitor/inductance system, the
homopolar generator/inductor system, the
distributed energy store system, and the
flux compressor powered railgun.
Attention is also given to the inverse
railgun flux compressor, where the piston
is driven between the rails along which the
inverted chevron armature slides. The
development of the railgun since World
War II is surveyed. It is noted that the
most pressing need at present is for
cheaper, simpler energy stores to couple
to the railguns.
-By Marshall, R. A.
means. A railgun is the simplest form of
electromagnetic macro particle accelerator and
can generate the highest sustained
accelerating force. The practical length of
conventional railguns is limited by the
impedance of the rails because current must
be carried along the entire length of the rails. A
railgun and power supply system called the
distributed energy store railgun was proposed
as a solution to this limitation. A distributed
energy storage railgun was constructed and
successfully operated. In addition to this
demonstration of the distributed energy store
railgun principle, a theoretical model of the
system was also constructed. A simple
simulation of the railgun system based on this
model, but ignoring frictional drag, was
compared with the experimental results.
During the process of comparing results from
the simulation and the experiment, the effect of
significant frictional drag of the projectile on
the sidewalls of the bore was observed.
-By Holland, L. D.
 Problem Definition and Solution

• As of right now, it costs nearly around $20,000 to send

1kg into the orbit.
• With the help of this railgun, the cost can be reduced by 4
times.
• By using railgun, the cost will be decreased to around
$550 - $600 per kg.
• The main advantage of this project will be reduction in the
wastage of fuel, which will lead to reduction in the amount
of pollution.

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 PROPOSED METHODOLOGY

• After all the information is corrected, analysed, optimised

and finalised, we would then proceed with the execution
process.
• All the designs, prototypes, available notes, formulas,
diagrams, illustrations and models would be used to fulfil
our required aim.
• Once our development of the project is finished, we would
test our project and figure out whether there are any issues
with the working of our model.
• If there are any issues with the model we would try to fix
the issues and re-run the model again.

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ASSEMBLY

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 SCOPE OF THE PROJECT
• The United States military have expressed interest in pursuing
research in electric gun technology throughout the late 20th
century, since electromagnetic guns don't require propellants to
fire a shot as conventional gun systems do, significantly increasing
crew safety and reducing logistics costs, as well as provide a
greater range. In addition, railgun systems have shown to
potentially provide higher velocity of projectiles, which would
increase accuracy for anti-tank, artillery, and air defense by
decreasing the time it takes for the projectile to reach its target
destination. During the early 1990s, the U.S. Army dedicated more
than $150 million into electric gun research. At the University of
Texas at Austin Center for Electro mechanics, military railguns
capable of delivering tungsten armor-piercing bullets with kinetic
energies of nine mega joules (9 MJ) have been developed. Nine
mega joules is enough energy to deliver 2 kg (4.4 lb.) of projectile
at 3 km/s (1.9 mi/s)—at that velocity, a sufficiently long rod of
tungsten or another dense metal could easily penetrate a tank, and
potentially pass through it.

• The United States Naval Surface Warfare Centre Dahlgren

Division demonstrated an 8 MJ railgun firing 3.2 kg (7.1 lb)
projectiles in October 2006 as a prototype of a 64 MJ weapon to
be deployed aboard Navy warships. The main problem the U.S.
Navy has had with implementing a railgun cannon system is that
the guns wear out because of the immense pressures, stresses
and heat that are generated by the millions of amperes of current
necessary to fire projectiles with mega joules of energy. While not
nearly as powerful as a cruise missile like a BGM-109 Tomahawk
that will deliver 3,000 MJ of energy to a target, such weapons
would, in theory, allow the Navy to deliver more granular firepower
at a fraction of the cost of a missile, and will be much harder to
shoot down versus future defensive systems. For context, another
relevant comparison is the Rheinmetall 120mm gun used on main
battle tanks, which generates 9 MJ of muzzle energy.

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 RESOURCES AND PARTS REQUIRED
SR NAME OF SPECIFICATIONS QUANTITY REMARKS
NO. RESOURCES

1. Internet https://www.youtube.com/ 1
https://www.wikipedia.org/

2. WORD MS WORD 1
PROCESSION
SOFTWARE
3. PRESENTATION MICROSOFT 1
PROGRAM POWERPOINT

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 MAIN COMPONENTS
• Power supply: It is simply a source of large electric current.
• Rails: A pair of parallel conductive metal, such as aluminum,
copper is used for rails. They can range from about 4 to 30 feet in
length.
• The armature: It is used to bridge the gap between the two rails. It
can be a solid piece of conductive metal or a carrier that houses a
dart or other projectile.
• Battery: For efficient functioning of the electromagnetic railgun, a
battery of high power supply is required for such type of
functioning. A battery of around 4200 mAh, 12V output is suitable
for the railgun.
• Resistors: Resistors are required in the circuit of the targeting
system.
• Acrylic sheet: Acrylic is a generally used name for Polymethyl
Methacrylate (PMMA). Itis used in this system as an insulating
material. It is used to cover the railgun setup.
• DC-DC Converter: For charging of the capacitors of high voltage,
the supply voltage needs to be converted and increased to the
high voltage. Therefore, a dc-dc converter is required which
converts and increases the supply voltage while charging the
capacitors.
• Projectiles: The projectile which has to be fired through the
railgun should be extremely small, highly conductive and highly
heat resistant.
• And many such small components like joystick, camera, etc.

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 ACTION PLAN
Sr. Details Starting Date Concluding Date
No.
1. Formation of Group 2nd week of 4th week of August
August
2. Recognition and analysis 4th week of 1st week of
of the problem faced by August September
various industries
3. Discussed the topic with 1st week of 2nd week of
our mentor September September
4. Research to find 2nd week of 3rd week of
solutions for the September September
problems faced
5. Discussed the possible 3rd week of 4th week of
solutions with our September September
mentor
6. Feasibility of ideas 4th week of 2nd week of
September October
7. Decided to make 2 nd week of 3rd week of
electromagnetic railgun October October
8. Finalized the topic with 3rd week of 4th week of
our mentor and the head October October
of department
9. Gathered information 4th week of 1st week of
about our project October December
10. Industrial Survey 1 st week of 3rd week of
(Collection of information November November
about our topic)
11. Research on working 3rd week of 4th week of
principle of October October
electromagnetic railgun
12. Research on construction 4th week of 1st week of
of Electromagnetic November December
railgun
13. Design of 1st week of 2nd week of
Electromagnetic railgun December December
14. Discussion about the 2nd week of 2nd week of
components needed December December
15. Planning of material for 3 rd week of 4th week of
the components December December

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16. Market survey of the 4th week of 4th week of
required components December December
17. Planning of 1st week of 2nd week of
Electrical apparatus January January
required
18. Planning for fabrication 1st week of 2nd week of
materials required February February
19. Market Survey (Cost of 2nd week of 3rd week of
Components) February February
20. Purchasing of 3 rd week of 4th week of
Components February February
21. Testing the components 4th week of 1st week of March
February
22. Changing the 1st week of 2nd week of March
components according to March
the
requirements
23. Assembling the 2nd week of 3rd week of March
Components March
24. Approaching Different 4th week of 1st week of April
companies for Design March
and Fabricating Reasons
25. Testing of the Modified 1st week of 2nd week of April
Model April
26. Innovating the existing 2nd week of 3rd week of April
model based on the April
requirement
27. Making the Model 3rd week of 4th week of April
Aesthetically Pleasing April
28. Making a Report on our 4th week of 1st week of May
Project April
29. Making a Video for the 1st week of May 2nd week of May
Exhibition of our project
31. Approaching the Public 2nd week of May 3rd week of May
for any more constructive
criticism
32. Exhibition of the Project 3rd week of May 4th week of May

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