Dynamics of armature acceleration in a railgun channel

We have analyzed the results of experiments on the acceleration of an aluminum armature with a mass of about 3 g in a railgun with steel rails. The experiment was aimed at studying processes in a high-velocity contact at a velocity close to the transition value related to the contact velocity skin effect. In the absence of high-current arcs, a velocity of 1.2 km/s has been reached with the aid of armature pressing to the rails. A retarding force that acts upon the armature that moves in the railgun channel has been determined.