Induced transient currents on stationary vehicles under power lines hit by lightning

Abstract

The objective of this study is to evaluate the inducing effects of an overhead line hit by lightning on a nearby vehicle. The overhead line includes towers and grounding networks and it is assumed that one tower of the transmission line is subjected to a lightning strike. A full wave analysis method based on an integral formulation of Maxwell's equations is utilized for the determination of the hazardous zone around the energized power lines. The method uses a solution of the electric field integral equation by the Method of Moment (MoM), and is applicable to complex structures including networks of wires and metallic surfaces. The transient current passing through the body while a person on the ground touches the vehicle, is evaluated in order to verify the shock hazard level in the area around the tower structure.