Network cables under lightning pulse: electromagnetic topology analysis

Summary form only given. We report on the response of cables when subjected to external electromagnetic pulse (EMP) such as lightning. Analysis was done through a technique called electromagnetic topology (EMT) method of simulation. In such a simulation method it is assumed that different volumes of various shielding level of an electrical system are independent of each other and interact only through preferred paths. An important requirement of such a simulation method is the determination of the transfer function from the system exterior to the interior. We have introduced a new methodology for simulating the external-internal interactions through the transfer function generation using the CRIPTE code and have used this method to compare our simulation results on the network cable with previously measured values and simulation methods. Our analysis show that this technique for introducing the transfer function in terms of current at interior volumes compares well with measured magnetic and electric fields within the microwave range of up to 500 MHz. We have shown that the responses of matched cables to external lightning pulse are more pronounced at high frequencies.