A Physics-Based Approach to Aircraft Lightning Zoning: Zone 2

Lightning protection systems play a critical role in aircraft safety, allowing thousands of aircraft to be struck by lightning every year without consequence. Protection systems are optimized to reduce weight by dividing each aircraft into three zones that reflect the potential severity of lightning damage. The state-of-the-art zoning process has not changed substantially in decades and is largely based on in-service experience and qualitative analysis, in contrast to other safety-critical aircraft systems which leverage the full capabilities of modern computing. The physics of aircraft lightning attachment are poorly understood, so zoning is highly empirical. Current zoning methods are difficult to generalize and cannot be applied to unconventional aircraft. This work forms part of an effort to demonstrate the advantages of simulation-based zoning compared to the state-of-the-art, highlighting its physical basis, quantifiability, and broader applicability. The focus of this contribution is Zone 2, which corresponds to the swept stroke phase.