MODELING THE LIGHTNING EARTH FLASH RETURN STROKE FOR STUDYING ITS EFFECTS ON ENGINEERING SYSTEMS

The lightning return stroke contains large currents. The current model is important in evaluating the damage to engineering systems suffering direct hits. Moreover, the current radiates electromagnetic fields. These radiated fields too are well known to interact with engineering systems such as aircraft, communication devices and so forth. The computation of the radiated fields also requires a model of the current. In this paper a mathematical model of the return stroke currents is developed. We use transmission line electrical network parameters determined from electromagnetic field and gas discharge theories. The model presented in this paper is a reliable tool to characterize the critical electromagnetic environment that lightning presents to ground and airborne command, communication and control systems.