Cobham Software Performs Lightning Strike Tests
Cobham Technical Services has announced that its Opera electromagnetic design software has been used in an aircraft lightning strike simulation project. Lightning strike tests of a helicopter at Eurocopter's Donauworth facility have verified the accuracy of finite element analysis techniques for characterising the electromagnetic behaviour of complete and custom-cabled modern aircraft structures constructed using advanced composite materials. The exercise was performed using the Opera software as a final element of the company's work for the ILDAS (In-flight Lightning Strike Damage Assessment System) project. Simulation of the ILDAS tests highlighted how finite element techniques can generate accurate models of complex assembled airframes and simulate the effects of lightning strikes rapidly - in around a day on a standard office PC - to help developers evaluate and optimise lightning protection measures during the design cycle. The industry's current certification agains...