Airbus (Touluse, France) reported on April 29 that it has begin lightning strike tests on the second A350 XWB flight test aircraft, MSN3. These “electromagnetic hazard” evaluations – which took place in mid-April at Airbus’ Clément Ader facility in Colomiers, France – demonstrate necessary protection levels in case of lightning strikes while aloft.
The A350 XWB’s aerostructure is made primarily of carbon fiber composites, which provide more electrical resistance than an aerostructure consisting mostly of metallics. To ensure the A350 XWB aerostructure safely manages lightning strikes, Airbus has embedded metallic foils in the aircraft’s composite panels — increasing the aerostructure’s electrical conductivity and protecting harnesses with metallic conduits.
Metallic foils already have been used on the A380 rear fuselage section, however as the A350 XWB includes a larger percentage of composite materials, it is important to confirm that such foils provide adequate protection for systems and equipment.
The A350 XWB electromagnetic hazard testing on MSN3 lasted around three days, consisting of lightning strike simulations and follow-up measurements of induced voltage/current levels on selected harnesses. These evaluations use a low-level current injection rather than the actual electrical current level generated by a lightning strike, with the measured voltages and current then extrapolated to the real threat of 200,000 amperes. Testing will be continued by similar but longer tests on the MSN4 aircraft in 2014, fulfilling a requirement for type certification of Airbus’ A350-900 version.
For more information on composites and lightning strike protection, see "Lightning strike protection strategies for composite aircraft," published in the May 2013 issue of High-Performance Composites magazine.
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