Flashover Voltage Characteristics of Segmented Diverter Strips

The flashover voltage characteristics of different types of segmented diverter strips were determined. Especially the resistive layer on the rear side of the strip, which protect the strip from electrostatic discharges, has a major influence on the flashover characteristics. The voltage waveform A defined in many aircraft standards with a voltage steepness of 1000 kV/μs ± 50% does not lead to the highest flashover voltages. With a lower voltage steepness, typically between 1 and 10 kV/μs, the flash-over voltages can increase by a factor of four.

Analytical investigations can give explanations for this behaviour. The voltage distribution along the segmented diverter strips changes from a capacitive controlled voltage distribution to a resistive controlled voltage distribution when reducing the voltage steepness.