Evaluation method for lightning damage of carbon fiber reinforced polymers subjected to multiple lightning strikes with different combinations of current components

Abstract

The aircraft lightning environment consists of four lightning current components with different parameters, which are known as lightning components A, B, C and D. The lightning damage of aeronautic carbon fiber reinforced polymer laminates subjected to multiple continuous sequential lightning current components with different timing combinations was experimentally evaluated. The experimental results indicated that the carbon fiber reinforced polymer laminates suffered serious lightning damage, including carbon fiber fracture, resin pyrolysis and delamination. Through an analysis of the lightning damage properties of carbon fiber reinforced polymers, the influential factors and evaluation methods of the lightning damage in carbon fiber reinforced polymer laminates were studied. Because the lightning damage evaluation method under a single lightning impulse was found to be inapplicable for the multiple continuous lightning strikes, a multi-factor evaluation method was proposed. In the multiple continuous lightning strike test, the damage depth was found to be closely related to lightning components A, B and D and could be estimated based on the amplitudes and rise rates of the applied lightning components. Increases in the damaged area after a lightning strike were driven by lightning component C due to its substantial thermal effects. The damaged area was evaluated on the basis of the parameters of the electrical action integral and the transfer charge. The research on the evaluation methods for carbon fiber reinforced polymer laminate lightning damage presented herein may provide experimental support and a theoretical basis for studying the lightning effect mechanism and optimizing material formulations, manufacturing processes and structural designs to achieve performance improvements for carbon fiber reinforced polymer laminates in the future.