Numerical simulation of a positive streamer discharge in a combined gap based on aircraft lightning zoning test

Abstract

The research involves conducting high voltage tests to determine lightning attachment locations on an aircraft model and constructing a streamer discharge simulation model in a 20 cm combined gap. The investigation focuses on the air streamer discharge of a non-uniform electric field in the combined gap through experiments and numerical simulation. The results reveal that the discharge process in the electrode-aircraft model gap closely aligns with the final jump stage of natural lightning. Notably, the surface charge density on the aircraft model exhibits a negative correlation with the radius of curvature. Due to the enhanced electric field strength, the aircraft model tips with bigger curvatures have a greater likelihood of initiating streamer discharge. Once the streamer bridges the electrode-aircraft model gap, the accumulation of space charge results in the aircraft’s surface charge reaching an order of magnitude higher than the initial induced charge.