Numerical studies on damage of carbon/epoxy composites exposed to lightning strike

Lighter carbon fiber/epoxy composites are replacing metals in wind turbines blades, aircraft structures, marine structures, automotive skins & other applications. Lightning strike damage is a real threat to these materials during service life. Along with experimental studies, their damage predictions by numerical methods are being attempted by various researchers. The numerical simulation of this damage by coupled thermal–electric (transient) analysis and thermal transient analysis is presented in this article. In this study, damage predictions based on thermal profiles are carried out, and suitable validations with earlier published work are discussed.