Quantifying the Influence of Plasma - Solid Mechanics Coupling on the Prediction of Lightning Strike Composite Specimen Damage

Previous work has modelled various individual features of lightning strikes on composite materials. Simulations have considered the external plasma conditions at the lightning attachment point and the composite material internal damage mechanisms. As the external and internal behaviour represent quite different physics, the way these modelling methods are used together is a critical question and one not examined in the literature. This paper examines the sensitivity of damage prediction based on the strategy used to translate the external plasma conditions on the composite laminate surface to a finite element model of the internal damage mechanisms. The study considers a standard lightning strike test setup and established plasma modelling approach, varying the order in which individual plasma effects are applied, either in parallel or in series, to the solid mechanics models. The results demonstrate for the first time the sensitivity of damage predictions to the coupling strategy, enabling the definition of a tailored strategy for modelling waveform B tests. It has also been shown that a plasma model can be linked with a solid mechanics model to analyse damage due to lightning strikes.