Damage analysis for carbon fiber/epoxy composite exposed to simulated lightning current

Abstract

A simulation model of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites (CFRP) exposed to simulated lightning current was constructed based on the pyrolysis behavior of resin, in which temperature dependent material properties due to resin pyrolysis were took into account, such as thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, specific heat, and density. The damage behavior of CFRP caused by lightning strike has been modeled and validated by experiments. Based on the model, CFRP damage propagation behavior during lightning strike and influence of lightning current parameters to damage behavior of CFRP were investigated. Results indicated that, during lightning strike, damage depth and damage area of CFRP propagate rapidly at the initial stage of lightning strike, and then become slowly, damage of each layer formed under the act of resistive heating generated by electricity conduction in-plane of the layer and heat transmit between connected layers, and then propagate directionally; with the increase of peak current and waveform parameters, damage of the CFRP will be increased.