Lightning Return Strokes to Tall Towers: Ability of Engineering and Electromagnetic Models to Reproduce Nearby Electromagnetic Fields

We present measurements of nearby vertical and horizontal electric fields from leaders and return strokes associated with lightning strikes to the 100-m-tall Gaisberg Tower in Austria obtained in 2007 and 2008. The fields were measured at a distance of about 20m from the tower's vertical axis. Simultaneously with the fields, return-stroke currents were also measured at the top of the tower. The measured data are used to test engineering and electromagnetic models for the return stroke. In general, the agreement between measured waveforms and model-predicted ones is satisfactory.

[1]  G. Diendorfer,et al.  Some Parameters of Negative Upward-Initiated Lightning to the Gaisberg Tower (2000–2007) , 2009, IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility.

[2]  M. Ianoz,et al.  On lightning return stroke models for LEMP calculations , 1988 .

[3]  Farhad Rachidi,et al.  Effect of Nearby Buildings on Electromagnetic Fields from Lightning , 2008 .

[4]  Vladimir A. Rakov,et al.  Application of the antenna theory model to a tall tower struck by lightning , 2003 .

[5]  M. Ianoz,et al.  Lightning-induced voltages on overhead lines , 1993 .

[6]  Ahmed Boubakeur,et al.  Lightning-Induced Voltages on Overhead Power Lines with the Use of the Hybrid Method: Influence of the Shielding Wire , 2010 .

[7]  F. Rachidi,et al.  Far-field-current relationship based on the TL model for lightning return strokes to elevated strike objects , 2005, IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility.

[8]  A. Shoory,et al.  On the Measurement and Calculation of Horizontal Electric Fields From Lightning , 2011, IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility.

[9]  V. Rakov,et al.  New insights into lightning processes gained from triggered‐lightning experiments in Florida and Alabama , 1998 .

[10]  V.A. Rakov,et al.  Overview of Recent Progress in Lightning Research and Lightning Protection , 2009, IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility.

[11]  C. Nucci,et al.  On return stroke currents and remote electromagnetic fields associated with lightning strikes to tall structures: 2. Experiment and model validation , 2007 .

[12]  Vladimir A. Rakov,et al.  Return stroke current profiles and electromagnetic fields associated with lightning strikes to tall towers: Comparison of engineering models , 2007 .

[13]  Vladimir A. Rakov,et al.  Effect of vertically extended strike object on the distribution of current along the lightning channel , 2002 .

[14]  R. H. Golde,et al.  The lightning discharge , 1941 .

[15]  Farhad Rachidi,et al.  On the Master, Uman, Lin, Standler and the Modified Transmission Line Lightning return stroke current models , 1990 .

[16]  Yoshihiro Baba,et al.  On the use of lumped sources in lightning return stroke models , 2005 .

[17]  F. Rachidia,et al.  Return stroke current profiles and electromagnetic fields associated with lightning strikes to tall towers : Comparison of engineering models , 2007 .

[18]  G. Diendorfer,et al.  Lightning electromagnetic fields at very close distances associated with lightning strikes to the Gaisberg tower , 2010 .

[19]  F Napolitano,et al.  Radiated Fields From Lightning Strikes to Tall Structures: Effect of Upward-Connecting Leader and Reflections at the Return Stroke Wavefront , 2011, IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility.

[20]  Farhad Rachidi,et al.  Influence of the finite ground conductivity on the transient response to lightning of a tower and its grounding , 2005 .

[21]  M. Uman,et al.  Magnetic field of lightning return stroke , 1969 .

[22]  Yoshihiro Baba,et al.  Numerical electromagnetic field analysis of lightning current in tall structures , 2001, 2001 Power Engineering Society Summer Meeting. Conference Proceedings (Cat. No.01CH37262).

[23]  C. E. R. BRUCE,et al.  The Lightning and Spark Discharges , 1941, Nature.