Abstract

This disclosure details the multi-physics finite element verification and structural co-optimization of a continuous-operation, meter-scale electromagnetic propulsion architecture. The design utilizes a bi-ionic, aperiodic golden-ratio magnetic nozzle configuration. Computational evaluation confirms structural, thermal, and electrical viability under a continuous 48.38 Tesla field at a 1 Megawatt load.

Key closed-loop validation metrics include:

  • Structural Containment: Implementation of a 32% CuNb/high-strength metal interleaving fraction successfully attenuates peak local magnetic stresses (1.630 GPa), yielding a secure 1.40x safety margin against an 80.0 MPa epoxy delamination threshold.

  • Electrical Viability: The co-optimized winding pack sustains an engineering current density of 227.5 A/mm², maintaining the critical surface requirement for the continuous field.

  • Thermal & Cryogenic Stability: Active microchannel cooling stabilizes the structural wall at 42.4°C (315.55 K), while steady-state 20 K cryogenic heat loads are modeled at 70.0 W (requiring 6.37 kW of refrigeration power).

  • Mission Fatigue: Cooldown thermal mismatch stresses (0.115 GPa) possess a 3.92x safety margin, with Steinberg fatigue modeling projecting a 109.4-million-cycle life limit.

  • Propulsion Efficiency: The architecture yields a 25.9-degree divergence half-angle, achieving 95.0% geometric nozzle efficiency.

Repository Contents: Included in this disclosure are the high-resolution finite element mesh files (Gmsh) and the complete Python validation pipeline used to compute anisotropic homogenized stress, packing-factor optimization, and outer-loop mission qualification.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License.

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