Lightning attractive radii of vertical and horizontal conductors evaluated using a self consistent leader inception and propagation model - SLIM

A self consistent lightning connecting leader inception and propagation model is utilized to study the attachment of lightning flashes to grounded structures and hence to evaluate the lightning attractive radii of vertical cylindrical structures and horizontal conductors as a function of height of the structure and peak current of the first return stroke. The attractive radius is defined as the maximum lateral distance from where the structure would be able to attract a down-coming stepped leader. Based on the results, equations that relate the attractive radius of the structure to its height and the prospective return stroke current are developed. The results to be described in the paper can be utilized to study the lightning attachment to towers or horizontal conductors of power transmission lines.