Transmission Line Mode Response of a Multiconductor Cable in a Transient Electromagnetic Field

This paper describes a technique for obtaining the induced worst case currents on individual wires of a multiconductor cable as a result of a transient electromagnetic radiation field. The technique involved a development of the expression for the induced current in matrix form where the mutual coupling terms and the other cable currents are the pertinent parameters. A worst case solution results from the assumption of maximum coupling orientation of the individual wires. A short example and some test results are presented. The test results show wave shapes for inductive and capacitive coupling. The solution for the individual wire current due to a transient electromagnetic field is important, since it will greatly reduce the required number of cable measurements and will allow the development of improved shielding techniques.