Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, cilt.53, sa.11, ss.3544-3553, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
ASELSAN Inc. has been working on electromagnetic launchers (EMLs) since 2014. The last prototype has a 50 × 60 mm convex bore with a length of 6 m. The barrel design of an EML is important for high efficiency. One of the most important features of the barrel is the armature geometry. In this study, the shape of the armature of an EML, EMFY-4 launcher developed by ASELSAN Inc., with an experimental current waveform, is optimized. A multiobjective optimization study is conducted to get a minimum armature mass (i.e., to minimize parasitic mass and to maximize system efficiency) and to minimize the current density ripple on the saddle line (CDRSL) (i.e., to obtain homogeneous current density), including a minimum armature cross-sectional area constraint, which depends on the specific action value of the armature material. The armature parametric model is built within a 3-D finite-element environment, while the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) is employed within a numeric computing environment. These two software tools are integrated to achieve the optimal armature shape. Also, the effect of the contact resistance is investigated on the optimum armature, and it is observed that the contact resistance causes a more homogeneous current density in the armature–rail contact region. A 262-g armature is found to be the optimum and gives a more homogeneous current density distribution. The optimized armature reduces the mass by 12.6% and decreases CDRSL by 50.6%.