Electromagnetic modeling of a lightning rod

Abstract

This paper deals with a frequency domain analysis of a lightning rod using the antenna theory model. The lightning rod struck by lightning is represented by a straight thin wire antenna excited by an equivalent current source. The current induced along a lightning rod due to a direct lightning strike is determined by solving the homogeneous integro-differential equation of the Pocklington type. Once obtaining the current distribution along the rod provides the calculation of the charge induced along the rod and related irradiated electric field. The corresponding Pocklington equation and field integral relationships are handled via the Galerkin-Bubnov scheme of the Indirect Boundary Element Method (GB-IBEM).