The appearance of nonmetallic structural materials and microelectronics in aircraft design has resulted in a need for better knowledge of hazardous environments such as lightning and the effects these environments have on the aircraft. This feasibility study was performed to determine the lightning parameters in the greatest need of clarification and the performance requirements of equipment necessary to sense and record these parameters on an instrumented flight research aircraft. It was found that electric field rate of change, lightning currents, and induced voltages in aircraft wiring are the parameters of greatest importance. Flat-plate electric field sensors and resistive current shunts are proposed for electric field and current sensors, to provide direct measurements of these parameters. Six bit analog-to-digital signal conversion at a 5 nanosecond sampling rate, short-term storage of 85000 bits and long term storage of 5 x 10 to the 7th power bits of electric field, current and induced voltage data on the airplane are proposed, with readout and further analysis to be accomplished on the ground. A NASA F-106B was found to be suitable for use as the research aircraft because it has a minimum number of possible lightning attachment points, space for the necessary instrumentation, and appears to meet operational requirements. Safety considerations are also presented.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    The Feasibility of Inflight Measurement of Lightning Strike Parameters


    Contributors:
    K. E. Crouch (author) / J. A. Plumer (author)

    Publication date :

    1978


    Size :

    91 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English





    Direct strike lightning measurement system

    Thomas, M.E. | Tema Archive | 1981



    Inflight Parachute Measurement Challenge

    Daum, Jared / Comis, Aaron | NTRS | 2019


    LIGHTNING STRIKE PROTECTION

    BREI MARK R / GORDON KEVIN D / LAWTON THOMAS G et al. | European Patent Office | 2021

    Free access