Numerical simulation of the spatial structure of a moving arc discharge

Results are given of the calculation of the structure of an arc discharge moving on parallel electrodes in air under the effect of a transverse magnetic field (0.086 T) at a current strength of 320 A. The numerical simulation is performed within an unsteady-state three-dimensional mathematical model of radiation magnetogasdynamics. The calculations reveal that fluctuations of values of physical parameters and of spatial shape of arc arise in the arc, which are caused by the gas flow past the discharge column and by unsteady-state processes in the electrode regions. Comparison is made with the available experimental data.