ADVANCED COMPOSITE FLYWHEEL STRUCTURAL DESIGN FOR A PULSED DISK ALTERNATOR

Electromagnetic guns require pulsed power supplies that deliver energy to the gun breech in the 2-6 millisecond regime. A flywheel energy storage machine in which the disk rotor contains the field excitation windings appears to be a practical approach to meeting energy/power density requirements. The general concept of constructing an axisymmetric disk to obtain a radial to hoop elastic modulus ratio (E(r)/E(theta)) that optimizes the strength of a radially thick disk is presented. A carbon fiber - epoxy rotor disk designed to operate at 650 meters pdr second rim speed with a 23% Copper conductor thickness fraction is reviewed. Results of sub-scale and/or sub-thickness spin test disks are also discussed.