Abstract: The electrical conductivity of carbon fiber composites (CFRP) is anisotropic, which has different current distribution characteristics from traditional metal materials in lightning injection. With a multiphysics electromagnetic simulation software, a CFRP reduced lightening current injection model is established to explore the current distribution characteristics of CFRP. Based on the current density simulation results, a current injection test is performed to collect current waveforms in different directions. The results show that for the CFRP board which is unprotected, the current peak along the surface fiber arrangement direction is greater than the surface vertical and thickness direction when injected with a waveform with a smaller peak current. The current waveform in all directions is close to the injection waveform, and the peak current increases linearly with the peak value of the injection current. Under the protection of copper mesh, the current peak in the thickness direction of the CFRP board is much smaller than in other directions on the surface. The aluminum board shows that the current peak in the thickness direction is greater than in other directions on the surface.

Key words: anisotropy, electrical conductivity, CFRP, current density, current waveform, composites