Experimental results from solid armature tests at the Center for Electromechanics at the University of Texas at Austin (railguns)

A number of solid armature tests have been conducted in a 90-mm gun facility over the past two years. Several different base push and mid-body drive armatures and projectile packages have been tested in the 50-m-deep vertical test range. Results from some of those tests, including in-flight photographs and X-rays, are presented. The C-shaped armature's evolution from a base push monolithic aluminum slug to a mid-body drive, two-piece armature/sabot is discussed. Issues involved with both base push and two-part armature/sabots and ways to deal with those issues are addressed.>