Translating Aperture Lightning Stroke Simulator for Aircraft Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Evaluating and testing lightning swept strokes on aircraft surfaces is challenging due to the displacement and elongation of the plasma channel during a lightning strike, which is difficult to simulate effectively.
Innovation Solution
A simulator device comprising dielectric structures with elongate slits that overlap to form a translating aperture, coupled with an electrode and a voltage source, to simulate a lightning swept stroke by forming a plasma channel that elongates along a test structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a stationary electrode is used to simulate lightning strike, then the plasma channel forms between electrode and test structure, but the plasma channel cannot be elongated in the direction of aircraft motion to simulate swept stroke phenomenon
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode is made movable along the test structure to dynamically create the elongated plasma channel shape. The electrode translates in the direction of aircraft motion, allowing the plasma channel to be stretched and swept along the test structure surface, accurately simulating the lightning swept stroke phenomenon while maintaining a relatively simple single-electrode design
2Speed
If high voltage is applied to form plasma channel at supersonic velocities, then the lightning swept stroke phenomenon is accurately simulated, but the voltage requirements become excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The aperture is made dynamic by translating it along the test structure at controlled speeds. This dynamic translation allows the plasma channel to be elongated and swept in the direction of aircraft motion, accurately simulating supersonic lightning swept strokes. The controlled translation mechanism enables achievement of supersonic velocities without requiring excessively high voltages, as the motion itself contributes to the swept stroke effect
Solution Approach 2:
The translating aperture acts as an intermediary between the electrode and test structure. By moving the aperture through which the plasma channel forms, the system can simulate the swept stroke phenomenon at reduced voltage levels compared to attempting to achieve the same effect through voltage alone. The aperture translation speed serves as a controllable parameter to achieve supersonic simulation velocities
Data Source
AI summary
Lightning swept stroke simulator devices comprise a first dielectric structure defining a first elongate slit, a second dielectric structure defining a second elongate slit, and an electrode positioned relative to the first dielectric structure and the second dielectric structure and configured to be operatively coupled to a voltage source. The first dielectric structure and the second dielectric structure are configured to be selectively moved relative to each other so that the first elongate slit and the second elongate slit overlap and collectively define an aperture that extends through the first dielectric structure and the second dielectric structure and that translates linearly along the first dielectric structure and the second dielectric structure.