Modelling mechanical lightning loads in carbon fibre-reinforced polymers

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2019

Authors

Karch, C (Author) Other; Arteiro, A (Author) FEUP; Camanho, PP (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: International Journal of Solids and Structures

Vol. 162

Pages: 217-243

ISSN: 0020-7683

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 18 Citations

Scopus - 22 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00P-ZDF

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2018.12.013

Abstract (EN): This paper describes a new approach for the simulation of lightning-induced damage in carbon fibrer-einforced polymer (CFRP) composite materials. In the past, the lightning-induced damage was mainly described by thermal or thermoelectric approaches. However these approaches need to be supplemented by mechanical pressure/force concepts for describing the non-thermal mechanical damage caused by transient lightning current components, since thermal or thermoelectric simulations cannot describe and predict the global mechanical response and damage of CFRP structures. In this work, the elastic response and intralaminar damage of protected CFRP structures are computed using numerical methods. The finite volume (FV) approach is used to calculate the arc root expansion and the finite element (FE) approach is used to determine the effects of magnetic forces and of the shock waves due to supersonic lightning channel expansion. Furthermore, the near surface-explosions of the lightning protection layer are taken into account including an accurate arc root behaviour on the surface of the sample. This novel approach predicts the response of CFRP structures subjected to lightning strike loads without the need to fit the model to experimental data or recourse to experimentally determined parameters. The predictions agree well with experimental results and provide a new insight on the physics behind the mechanical behaviour of CFRP structures subjected to lightning strike.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 27