Analysis of Electromagnetic Field Distribution of Aircraft Lightning Strike

The common lightning strikes in nature can threaten the flight safety of aircraft directly. In order to investigate the lightning environment of aircrafts and improve the lightning protection ability, a three-dimensional, full-size electromagnetic calculation model is established here. According to the static charge distribution, the lightning attachment points are determined, and several lightning paths are designed. Calculation results of the electromagnetic field on the aircraft surface under different paths show that the electric field distribution is uniform, but the magnetic field distribution is significantly different. Inside the aircraft, however, the variation characteristics of the electromagnetic field is related to the lightning path. The electromagnetic field tends to show the highest value in the area close to the lightning current flow. This study can determine the intensity of lightning current in each area, and help to find the weak point, which has important reference significance for the lightning protection design of the aircraft.