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Mechanism for Lightning Protection of CFC Structures Using Interwoven Wires
Technical Paper
1999-01-2352
ISSN: 0148-7191, e-ISSN: 2688-3627
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English
Abstract
Small diameter aluminum wires interwoven with the outermost graphite ply on carbon fiber composite (CFC) structures have been successfully used on aircraft such as the Learfan and the Beech Starship to protect the aircraft structure from lightning direct effects. Previous testing on the Beech Starship indicated that the ability of the aluminum wires to remove the surface finish was essential to minimizing structural damage. A test program was established on behalf of the Advanced General Aviation Transport Experiment Program (AGATE) and Raytheon Aircraft to determine which material properties of the interwoven wires promote removal of the surface finish. The test program examined the ability of aluminum, brass, copper, and Monel® wire fabric, applied on a fiberglass laminate, to remove a typical aircraft surface finish while conducting low-level simulated lightning current. Current and action integral levels at which each wire material began to remove surface finish were measured and used to identify wire material properties conducive to surface finish removal. Post-test visual inspections of the test samples were made to identify surface finish removal mechanisms. Calculations are presented that predict the ability of the tested wire materials to remove surface finish when interwoven in a graphite ply.
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Authors
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Citation
Hall, A., "Mechanism for Lightning Protection of CFC Structures Using Interwoven Wires," SAE Technical Paper 1999-01-2352, 1999, https://doi.org/10.4271/1999-01-2352.Also In
References
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- Olson, E.C. Raytheon Aircraft Report Number 122E776 March 1994
- Douay, A. Shockey D. Gondot P. Avenet J-P. Lightning-Induced Damage Phenomenology in Carbon Fiber Composite Materials International Aerospace and Ground Conference on Lightning and Static Electricity. U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center - Aircraft Division Report Number NAWCADPAX-95-306-PRO September 1995 39-1 39-11
- Weist, R. CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics 56 th Cleveland, OH CRC Press 1975-76