Page 14 - MODCOMP Newsletter no 4

Newsletter, Volume 4

Simulation of lightning strikes effects

Last months, AED have been struggling with the so complicated issue of modeling the Lightning Strike
(LS) effects on composite structures. Several software packages were used: ANSYS (HFSS and MECHAN-
ICAL) and ABAQUS (Electro-thermal tool).
The first software is implemented to carry out a qualitative comparison between several lightning strike
protections: Expanded Copper Mesh
(ECM), doped CNT resin, etc.

The second one has been used to obtain
a reliable way to predict the lightning
strike affected zone. This task is in pro-
gress with promising results.

It will be used to numerically reproduce
the damage areas on the aeronautical
demonstrators that are scheduled to be
tested. This will provide a numerical fea-
sibility approach to design new structures
against LS.

This study will be a new contribution in
the emerging field of the numerical anal-
ysis of the lightning strike phenomena ef-
fects.

The study has been carried out from May
until now.

As it has been pointed out above, this
tool will be helpful for the technology
down selection process, in order to de-
cide which composite modifications give
the best combination of properties to deal with lightning strike composites.

Contact person: Yasser Essa, yasser.essa@aernnova.com; Ignacio Briones Clar, ignacio.briones@aern-
nova.com.

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