Lightning strike withstand capacity test research on a lightweight lightning protection cable

Lightning is one of the most serious atmospheric hazards to aircrafts. Few methods can be employed for the lightning protection of the aircrafts constructed with nonconducting soft shells. This paper presents a novel Lightweight lightning-protection cable for the lightning protection of the aircrafts constructed with soft shells. This kind of lightning-protection cable was fabricated by covering metallic tube sections on plastic ropes. Simulated lightning strikes were conducted on the lightning-protection cables. Shock wave damages and electrical arc ablation damages generated by lightning to the cable were investigated.