Project "LIGHTNING"

 

SIXTH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME Aeronautics and Space

 

Lightning Protection for Structures and Systems on Aircraft using
Lightweight Composite Materials - Project LIGHTNING

 

PROJECT LIGHTNING SUMMARY

 

The European aviation industry has adopted new lightweight composite materials for primary structures and flight control surfaces, especially using carbon fibre reinforcement. Composites are lightweight, stiff, and provide smooth and aerodynamically efficient surfaces. Carbon fibre is particularly attractive because it has good corrosion and fatigue properties.

 

However, lightning protection is difficult to incorporate into a composite aircraft compared to a conventional aluminium one. Composite airframes also give less intrinsic electromagnetic shielding compared to aluminium, making it more difficult to protect the structure & avionics systems.

 

The small size and low weight of General Aviation (GA) aircraft means that the weight penalty which comes from the added lightning protection is very significant.

 

This project looks to optimise lightning protection for aircraft using lightweight composite structure.

 

The programme will look at areas where lightning protection has been found difficult to design in or to certificate in the past.

 

The programme will produce guidelines and acceptable design approaches for structures, flight control surfaces, fuel systems and avionics systems.

 

 

Primary study areas:

 

• Lightweight composite skins with carbon, glass, foam or honeycomb and external lightning protection. Understanding of the mechanisms for damage and identification of optimum protection methodologies for such structures
• Composite structural fuel tanks and elimination of ignition hazards
• Avionics systems protection, especially through use of shielding methods such as pipes and conduits
• Electrical Power systems protection [especially from transients directly injected onto power busses from engine alternators]
• Canopy protection

 

 

Project LIGHTNING Partners

Organisation	Location
Aviation Enterprises Ltd	Lambourn, Berkshire UK
Culham Lightning Ltd	Abingdon, Oxfordshire UK
Hexcel Composites Ltd	Hexcel Reinforcements, Les AvenièreS, France
Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH	Wiener Neustadt, Austria
Extra Fleugzeugbau GmbH	Hunxe, Germany
University of the BundesWehr	München Neubiberg, Germany
Fraunhofer-IZM Department of Mechanical Reliability & Micro Materials	Berlin, Germany
Iscom Composites	Tal El D.N Oshrat , Israel
Airbus Spain SL	Dpto Sistemas, EMC-Rayos, Getafe, MADRID, Spain