Abstract
Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates have been getting adopted as structural components for aircrafts due to their high mechanical performances. For the purpose of the evaluation of damage caused by a lightning strike, electric current analysis for CFRP laminates is indispensable. The authors have already proposed the analysis method using orthotropic electric potential function, which is applicable to the large structure that cannot be dealt with by general numerical methods such as FEM and FDM. In the case of unidirectional and cross-ply CFRP laminates, the effectiveness of this method has already been shown. The actual CFRP structures, however, have 45°, -45° carbon fiber plies in many cases. The present study proposes the improved method which can be applicable to the laminates having 45°, -45° plies. The effectiveness of this method was shown through the comparison with a numerical method.
