An investigation of lightning impulse on earthing materials and fulgurites formation

Abstract

The fulgurites are the unwanted product of the petrified lightning which should be avoided in the earth termination system. The lightning protection system has three main parts; air termination system, down conductor, and earth termination system. Fulgurite formation increases the earth's resistance value. Therefore, it is important to have a backfill material that can resist the fulgurites formation which will further provide an easy path to the charges. The testing for short impulse and long duration tests were done on sand and backfill materials. Two different backfill materials were used for the experimental study.