Abstract: The T2LXD1 series armatures are designed and the elastic-plastic characteristics of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy is analyzed. The linear hardening theory, the contact theory, and the ANSYS software are utilized to build the elastic-plastic contact model of the T2LXD1 series armatures. The effect of tail structure on the contact condition of the armature-rail interface is studied, and the interfacial contact parameters such as contact force, contact area and contact pressure are simulated and obtained. A small electromagnetic drive system with short rail is used to execute the sliding experiments of T2LXD1 series armatures, and the interfacial wearing conditions are analyzed, the sliding performance curves are compared. The experimental results show that the long tail can not increase the effective contact area, and longer tail results in lower sliding performance of armature; for the flexible armature and the short rail, to properly increase the pretightening contact force of the interface can improve the sliding performance of armature.