Thermal dynamic damage of aircraft composite material suffered from lightning channel attachment based on moving mesh method

Abstract

There is a complex nonlinear dynamic coupling and multi-physical damage between lightning channel and composite material. This paper aims to study the coupling mechanism between lightning channel and composite material. Magneto Hydro Dynamics (MHD) model is established to describe physical characteristics of lightning channel. Moving mesh approach and interface tracking method are applied to deal with the dynamic damage of composites material exposed to lightning channel. This coupling numerical method is validated by a case of aluminum (Al) alloy plate under lightning channel. It is also investigated the current flow, dynamic damage, interaction mechanism of composite laminate during lightning channel attachment. The results reveal that lightning current mainly flows along carbon fiber direction in plane. Current density decreases along the depth direction of composite laminate. Magnetic field contours exhibit a whirlpool shape around the discharge channel. Electromagnetic force is perpendicular to composite laminate surface. Lightning damage morphology of composite laminate exhibits an inverted cone shape. Ablation depth is about 1.57 mm and damage area is about 2080 mm2, which are consistent with experimental results. There exits mutual relationship between lightning damage morphology and lightning channel evolution.