Simulation on lightning erosion protection performance of CFRP laminates with metal cluster structure

Abstract

The tufting technology has the advantages of high flexibility and high economy. Research has found that metal tufting structures can significantly improve the mechanical and electrical properties of carbon fiber composites, and have great prospects in engineering applications. In order to investigate the damage characteristics of carbon fiber CFRP laminates with metal tufted structures during lightning strikes and the influence of structural parameters on lightning protection effectiveness, an electric thermal coupling model of CFRP laminates with metal tufted structures was established. Comparing the simulation and experimental results under the same load condition, it was found that the two were consistent in terms of damage appearance, damage area, and damage propagation trend, proving the effectiveness of the model. The transverse heat transfer process and current conduction path of CFRP laminates with metal cluster structure were discussed. The research results indicate that the ablation surface area of CFRP laminates with metal tufted structures is reduced to 8.06% of the reference component. Wire spacing had an effect on the area and shape of the area of the high potential region, and the wire spacing had the greatest impact on the ablation area of lightning strikes.

Keywords

• lightning protection
• metal tuft structure
• ablative damage
• thermoelectric coupling