Analyses of launch sites lightning protection systems by 3D numerical modelling and experimental tests

Abstract

The lightning progression model has been implemented in this article to study the performance of the lightning protection system to the launch site. For this purpose, a real-size exemplary protective system has been used for simulation and a laboratory-scale exemplary system has been applied for both simulation and experimental testing applications. Surveys and simulations are both conducted in a three-dimensional space and vulnerable areas on equipment surface - areas with the greatest demolition potentiality are identified as well. Implementing various charge models, the protective system and the installation consisting of launch pad, spacecraft, three lightning towers and catenary wires is modelled at first and the impulse experiments are eventually performed on the lab-made model in a high-voltage laboratory. The good level of conformity observed between simulation and experimental test results verifies the above-mentioned method accuracy and application to real-size systems.