Determination of Current Within the Lightning Path in the Case of Lightning to a Tall Object

Four model types that could be used to theoretically approximate lightning events currently exist. These are namely gas dynamic (physical) models, electromagnetic models, distributed-circuit models, and “engineering” models. In this paper, a modified transmission line (TL) “engineering” modeling approach, which incorporates the presence of a tall object in the lightning path is adopted. The associated discontinuity at the lightning channel front is treated by introducing reflected and transmitted components, with constituents that are less influential omitted. All computations are performed in the time domain. The considered tall structure is the CN Tower and it is represented by either one, three, or five transmission line sections connected in series. The lightning channel is represented by two more transmission line sections of variable length. The models allow for calculation of current at any height of the CN Tower or the lightning channel and at any time, as needed for determination of the electric and magnetic fields at a distance. The approach is applicable to any other tall structure.