The connection between aircraft skin and cable current modelling

Aircraft must undergo compliance testing against the expected high intensity radiated environment. Pressures on aircraft availability, limited testing resources and challenges on system access within confined volumes, has meant computational electromagnetic is finding increased utility within these programs. For this study eigencurrent analysis have been applied to a hollow wing model of a Macchi trainer jet and the results compared to modeled results of current coupling onto generic cable layouts placed within the aircraft. Results indicate that for the most part there is a strong link between the type of eigencurrent mode excited and the current seen induced on internal aircraft cables. However, in some cases the link is less intuitive and indicates that further study is required.