Design and implementation of continuous multiple impulse current generator for aircraft lightning protection tests

Abstract

Lightning protection design is still an important challenge for modern planes. With reference to the US Mil-Std-1757 and SAE ARP 5416 2005 and other standards, lightning flashes differ mainly in current amplitude, the transferred charge and the impulse shapes of lightning current. The standards prescript related test waveforms of aircraft lightning environment. For meeting the requirement of lightning protection for aircraft requires of high-current waveforms, a developed high-current generator design that consists of four current generators and a measurement-control unit. The combination continuously produce four impulse current waveforms that required in lightning protection test and more specific test charge conditions. The proposed generator is applicable for simulation and validation of lightning protection measures. The quantitative experiment results will provide actual reference for the aircraft design and structural optimization of air craft lightning protection.