Electromagnetic Interaction of Lightning with Aircraft

The electromagnetic interaction of lightning with aircraft is a complex event. Because of new aircraft technologies, it is becoming more important to be able to predict and understand lightning-induced transients on avionics systems. In this paper, a review of state of the art of lightning-interaction modeling is presented. The overall interaction process is discussed, and specific modeling techniques are given for external interaction, internal interaction, and internal propagation. Some examples are given for lightning strokes attached to an aircraft. A discussion of nonlinear effects is also given, and comparison between nuclear electromagnetic pulse and lightning environments are presented. Finally, an overview of hardening techniques is given. An extensive bibliography is included.