aircraft lightning protection
 

aircraft lightning protection
i am currently working on a secondary wing structure for a military aircraft. the structure will be primarily made of carbon fiber/epoxy. the mounting features to the aircraft are 7075 aluminum that will be bonded to the carbon and the fairings will be glass/epoxy which will be quarter turn connected or something very similar to the carbon main structure. i am wondering if anyone knows any good resources for handling lightning protection of such a structure or can offer any other potentially helpful information. thanks
carbon and glass composite will explode where struck by lighting, usually on its way to some metal part under the skin. metal wires can be cowoven into carbon and glass fabrics. my personal opinion is that the best aproach is an expanded copper or aluminum foil bonded to the outside surface. astroseal and delker make the foils. several prepreggers have adhesive products with inbedded foils. the foil will conduct the current away from the stike location. but the foil will still get vaporized for a diameter of about 3 inches.