Behavior of an Electroconductive Rip-stop Fabric under 8/20 µs Lightning Current: Preliminary Results

Lightning strokes can hit buildings, structures, living beings, and the ground, jeopardizing the integrity and health of people and animals and causing damages to trees and equipment. Some outdoor human activities in backcountry places require adequate lightning protection systems (LPS) to reduce the risk of damage to health. Preliminary research has shown that the use of electroconductive fabrics could serve as part of lightweight LPSs. In this research work we investigate the behavior of samples of a rip-stop electroconductive fabric submitted to lightning impulse currents with amplitudes in the range 5 kA to 20 kA and 8/20 µs waveshape. Both the voltage and current signatures were recorded. The results show that there is more than one mechanism of electric conduction in the electroconductive fabric, allowing it to endure lightning currents.