IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY. VOL 35. NO.

I , FEBRUARY 1993 75

Lightning-Induced Voltages on Overhead Lines

Carlo Albert0 Nucci, Member, IEEE, Farhad Rachidi, Michel V.
Ianoz, Senior Member, IEEE, and Carlo Mazzetti, Member, IEEE

Abstract- The paper discusses a modeling procedure that
permits calculation of lightning-induced voltages on overhead
lines starting from the channel-base current. The procedure
makes use of 1) a lightning return-stroke model proposed by the
authors for the calculation of the lightning electromagnetic field;
and 2) a coupling model already presented in the literature based
on the transmission line theory for field-to-overhead line coupling
calculations. Both models are discussed and tested with exper-
imental results. The hypothesis of perfect conducting ground,
generally adopted in studies on the subject, is discussed in order
to better assess its validity limits. The procedure is applied for the
analysis of the voltages induced on an overhead line by a nearby
lightning return stroke with a striking point equidistant from
the line terminations. The analysis shows that the vertical and
horizontal components of the electric field are both to be taken
into account in the coupling mechanism. The peak value and the
maximum time derivative of the channel-base current are shown
to affect both the peak value and the maximum front steepness
of the induced voltages while, for the examined case, the return-
stroke velocity affects practically only the front steepness of the
induced voltages. A comparison with other models proposed for
the same purpose is presented. Peak value and maximum front
steepness of the induced voltages calculated using other lightning
return-stroke models differ; these differences are of the same
order of magnitude as those that would result from different sets
of characteristic parameters of the lightning discharge. It is also
shown that a different coupling model used in the power-lightning
literature by several other authors may result in a less accurate
estimation of the induced voltages.
I. INTRODUCTION
have been reported concerning the intensity and the waveshape
of the induced voltage. This may essentially be due to:
different approaches in modeling the distribution of the
current along the channel during the return stroke phase
when calculating the electromagnetic field; and
different approaches in modeling the coupling between
the electromagnetic field and the conductors.
In addition to the theoretical studies, several measurement
campaigns on lightning electromagnetic fields [9], [IO] and
many tests with voltages induced on experimental lines [2],
[ 1 I]-[ 141 have been performed; from these, data have been
collected that result in a better comprehension of the phenom-
ena involved.
The aim of this paper is to 1 ) discuss the adequateness of
a modeling procedure that permits calculation of the lightning
induced voltages starting from the channel-base current; 2 )
apply it for the analysis of the voltages induced on a overhead
line by a typical subsequent return stroke; and 3) point out the
differences with other methods proposed for the same purpose.
The induced voltages are calculated in the following way:
Starting from the lightning current at the channel base, the
electromagnetic field at different distances is calculated
making use of a lightning return-stroke model proposed
by the authors, which specifies the spatial-temporal dis-
tribution of the current along the channel.
Then use is made of the electromagnetic field in order
to calculate the induced voltages using a coupling model

V OLTAGES caused by lightning on overhead power lines

can cause damages to either the power system (in par-
ticular to distribution transformers), the electronic control and
already presented in the literature based on the transmis-
sion line theory for field-to-transmission line coupling
calculations.
management system, or both [1]-[3]. Eriksson et al. [2] have In the first part of the paper (Sections I1 and III), the adopted
evidenced that indirect lightning return strokes, hitting the procedure is examined. The hypothesis of perfect conduct-
ground in the vicinity of overhead lines, constitute a more ing ground, generally assumed in studies on the subject, is
dangerous cause of damage than direct strikes, because of their discussed in order to better assess its validity limits. Some
more frequent occurrence. comparisons between calculations and available experimental
Several theoretical studies have been performed and differ- results are presented, even though a complete and adequate
ent models have been proposed in order to estimate the severity comparison is limited by an insufficient set of simultane-
of voltages induced by indirect lightning return strokes [4]- ously recorded parameters (namely, channel-base current wave
[8]. In spite of some general agreement, quite different results shapes, velocity of the return stroke, vertical and horizontal
electric field at different distances from the striking point, and
Manuscript received February 18, 1992; revised July IO, 1992. This work
was sponsored by the Italian Ministry of University and Scientific and line-induced voltages).
Technological Research, Electrical Utilities of Switzerland, and the Swiss In the second part of the paper (Section IV), the analysis
National Science Foundation. of the voltages is performed. Part of the analysis is aimed at
C. A. Nucci is with the 1st. di Elettrotecnica Induwiale, Universiti di
Bologna, viale Risorgimento 2, 40136 Bologna. Italy. quantifying the contribution of both the horizontal and vertical
F. Rachidi and M. Ianoz are with the Lah. de Reseaux d‘Energie Electrique, electric field components to the induced voltages. In addition,
Ecole Polytechnique FCdCrale de Lausanne, CH- 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. we discuss the influence of the main parameters pertaining to
C. Mazzetti is with the Dip. lngegneria Elettrica. Universita di Roma “La
Sapienm,” via Eudoasiana 18, 0184 Roma, Italy. the lightning discharge (maximum front steepness and peak
IEEE Log Number 9204745. value of the channel-base current, return-stroke velocity) on
00 IX-9375/93$03.00 0 I093 IEEE

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76 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY. VOL. 35, NO. I . FEBRUARY 1993

TABLE I
t PARAMETERS OF TWO FUNCTIONS
CURRENT WAVESHAPE
(2) TH.4T REPRODUCE
OF A TYPICAL
THE CHANNEL-BASE
SUBSEQUENT
RETURNSTROKE
I01\0 rI 1 721 it1 102 r.22 122
(W (11s) ((1s) (kA) (11s) (11s)
10.7 0.25 2.5 2 6.5 2.1 230 2

as expressed by

Fig. I . Geometry used for the calculation of voltages induced by a lightning
return stroke on a nearby overhead line.
the induced voltages.
The analysis is completed by a comparison of the voltages
calculated adopting different lightning return-stroke models, in
order to assess how much the differences in these models may
affect the calculated voltages. The comparison between the
adopted field-to-overhead line coupling model and one that is
widely used in the literature (e.g., 151, [6], [13], 1151) is also
given.
In this paper we shall concentrate on voltages induced dur-
ing the lightning return-stroke phase; it is generally accepted
that voltages induced during the preceding leader phase are
consistently lower 141, 171.
The calculation results presented in this paper were obtained
by means of computer programs developed by the authors.
RETURN
11. CALCULATION OF LIGHTNING
STROKEELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
A. Spatial-Temporal Distribution of the
Lightning Return-Stroke Current
Fig. 1 presents the geometry of the problem: the lightning
channel is assumed to be a vertical unidimensional antenna
above a ground plane; no channel branches are considered,
which means that the results, as computed, are mainly appli-
cable to subsequent return strokes [7].
For the calculation of the lightning return-stroke electro-
magnetic field, a spatial-temporal distribution of the current
along the channel i ( z ’ . t ) must be assumed. To this purpose
several models have been proposed in the past years [ 16]-[20];
it is to be observed that only models in which the return-stroke
current i(z’.t) can be simply related to a specified channel-
base (ground-level) current i ( 0 , t ) are suitable, since only the
channel-base current can be measured directly and only for it
experimental results are available.
The model we adopt for the present study is the modified
transmission line (MTL) model, proposed and tested by the
authors in 1201 and 1211; in it the lightning current is allowed
to decrease with height while propagating the channel upward,
i ( d .t ) = exp ( - z ’ / X ) i ( O . t - Z ’ / Y ) (1)
where
X decay constant introduced in order to take into account
the effect of the vertical distribution of charge stored in the
corona sheath of the leader and subsequently discharged dur-
ing the return stroke phase; it has already been determined
to be in the range of 1-2 km [21]; and
v velocity of the return stroke.
This engineering model represents a modification of the
transmission line (TL) model introduced by Uman and McLain
[ 171, and, as will be shown, results in a better agreement with
experimental results.
For the current at the channel base i ( O , t ) , we adopt an
analytical expression described by a sum of two functions of
the following type [ 191
i(0.t) = - (2)
where
71 = rxp [ - ( ‘ 1 / ~ 2 ) ( 1 2 r 2 / r 1 ) ( l ’ ” ) ] (3)
and
10 amplitude of the channel-base current;
TI front time constant;
r2 decay time constant;
rj amplitude correction factor; and
11 exponent (2 . . . 10).
Function (2) has been preferred to the commonly used
double-exponential function since it exhibits a time-derivative
equal to zero at t = 0, consistent with measured return-stroke
current waveshapes. Further, it allows for the adjustment of the
current amplitude, maximum current derivative, and charge
transferred nearly independently by varying 10,r1, and r2,
respectively.
A sum of two functions has been chosen in order to better
reproduce the overall waveshape of the current as observed in
typical experimental results 1221. We have chosen the current
parameters reported in Table I in order to reproduce the typical
features of the lightning current at the channel base-namely
the peak value, maximum time derivative, and decay time-of
a typical subsequent return stroke, in accordance with Berger
et al. observations [22] (see Fig. 2).
B. Lightning Return-Stroke Electromagnetic Field
The coupling model adopted in this paper for the calculation
of lightning-induced voltages requires the determination of the
horizontal and vertical components of the electric field.

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NUCCI et al.: LIGHTNING-INDUCED VOLTAGES 77

14 ai(& t - z ‘ / v - R / c )
I
+ -r (c’z -Rs2’)
exp (-z’/A)
at

where
t o vacuum permittivity;
c speed of light in vacuum; and
R distance from the single dipole to the observation point,
as defined in Fig. 1.
In (4) and ( 5 ) , the first term is called the electrostatic field,
the second the electric induction or intermediate field, and
0 10 20 30 40 the third the electric radiation field. The total vertical and
f [PI 50

horizontal electric fields are obtained by integrating (4) and

( 5 ) along the channel and its image.
We now discuss the assumption regarding the perfect con-
ductivity of the ground for the calculation of the horizontal
and vertical electric field components. The incident electric
field Ei,which excites the line, is due to the contribution of
field originated by the channel dipoles and the response of
the ground. This problem has been treated by Sommerfeld
[24] in the general case of a dipole above an imperfectly
conducting ground. The expressions derived by him for the
electromagnetic field are in terms of slowly converging inte-
grals. Simplified approaches valid for different distance ranges
from the lightning channel have been proposed, some of which
0 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.6 2.0 are discussed in [25].
f [PI
For the vertical component of the electric field, at distances
Fig. 2. Channel-base (ground level) current for a typical negative subse- from the lightning channel that do not exceed a few kilometers,
quent return stroke: (a) solid line--experimental data (from [22]); dashed its intensity can be calculated with reasonable approximation
line--analytical approximation using a sum of two functions; (b) derivative
of the analytical approximation for the first 2 11s.
assuming the ground as a perfect conductor, as discussed by
several authors (e.g., [25]). At greater distances, attenuations
and distortions of the vertical field, when propagating along an
By assuming the ground as a perfect conductor (a hypothesis imperfectly conducting ground, are no longer negligible [26].
discussed later in this section), Master and Uman [23] have Regarding the horizontal component of the electric field,
derived the equations for the vertical electric field dE,(r. z , t ) its intensity is more affected by the finite conductivity of
and the horizontal electric field dE,(r, z . t ) at altitude z and the ground than the vertical one [25].However, for distance
distance r originated by a vertical dipole of infinitesimal length ranges not exceeding a few hundred meters, the assumption
dz‘ at height z’ along the channel by solving Maxwell’s of perfect ground conductivity can still be considered as
equations in terms of retarded scalar and vector potentials. reasonable. This is shown by Fig. 3(a), where results published
Their equations, adapted to the MTL lightning return stroke in [25], which have been obtained using accurate numerical
current model expressed by (l), become solutions of the Sommerfeld integrals assuming a Bround
conductivity of 1OW2 R-l/m and a relative ground permittivity
of 10, are compared with calculations performed by the
dE,(r. z . t ) = - 47rto [ 2 ( z - 2’)’ - r 2
R5 authors assuming an infinite ground conductivity. Note that, as
discussed in [8], the horizontal component of the field above
a perfect conducting ground is due to the different distances
and different retardation times of the fields produced by the
2(2 - z ’ ) ~- r 2 current in each channel segment and its image.
exp (-z’/A)I(O. t - z’/u - R / r )
+ cR4 For observation points far from the channel, these dif-
ferences tend to equalize and the horizontal field above a
perfect conducting ground becomes negligible; the assumption
,of perfect conducting ground is no more reasonable for real
soils as shown in Fig. 3(b) and (c). In order to calculate the
horizontal component of the electric field above an imperfectly
exp (-.’/A)

37.(z - z ’ )
i’ I(0, ‘T - z ’ / u - R / c )d7 conducting ground at observation points far from the lightning
channel, use is made by some authors of the wave-tilt function
[7], [27]. This function relates the Fourier transform of the
cxp ( - z ’ / A ) i ( O . t - z’/v - R / c )
+ cR4 horizontal electric field E , ( j w ) to that of the vertical electric

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78 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY, VOL. 35, NO. 1, FEBRUARY 1993

far distance range from the channel ( T > 1 km) 191. The
second have been obtained through firing small rockets trailing
. -4
...-......-. e--------
a grounded wire upward a few hundred meters during thun-
derstorms. With this technique, simultaneous measurements of
r=12km channel-base current and vertical electric field at close distance
z=6m
(e.g., T = 50 m) have been obtained [lo]. No measurements
of the horizontal electric field above ground at close distances
- - - - .. from 1251

- have been published.

.

In Fig. 4 the typical vertical electric field at 2 km from

Wavetilt
I~"'1"" l""I""I""1''"TT" the lightning channel for a natural subsequent return stroke,

and e,- = 10, same as in 1251, have been adopted.
field E Z ( j w )
where erg and og are the relative permittivity and the conduc-
tivity of the ground, respectively.
Equation (6) applies rigorously to the case of plane waves
with grazing angle of incidence with respect to the ground
plane. For the case of lightning electromagnetic fields, its
application has been shown to be reasonable provided that the
observation point is a few kilometer distant from the lightning
channel [7], 1271.
already been presented in 1201 and [21].
Fig. 5 compares the triggered lightning electric field mea-
sured at 50 m from the channel reported in [lo] with cal-
culations using the MTL model. The channel-base current
reported in [lo] has been digitized and used as input for
the calculation. The presence of the rocket-launching metallic
structure has been modeled by considering two current pulses
traveling in opposite directions. as suggested in [lo], starting
from a junction point at 15 m above ground; the value of
the return stroke velocity near ground level has been fixed
at 2.46 . lo8 m/s as derived in [IO], and reflections of the
downward-traveling current pulse at the base of the launching
structure (ground level) have not been taken into account. As
far as the above assumption can be considered reasonable, the
comparison shows a satisfactory agreement.

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NUCCI et al.: LIGHTNING-INDUCED VOLTAGES 19

The equations that describe the coupling between the elec-

tromagnetic field produced by an indirect lightning stroke and
a multiconductor overhead line above ground expressed in the
time domain are
d 3 .
-[[U;(z,t)]
dz + ' +
[ i ; ( z : t ) ] [L:j]-[[zi(z>
at
t)]
= [E:(z. hi,t ) ](7)
d d
+
- [ Z i ( ~ , t ) ] [Gij]. [ u ; ( z , t ) ]
a:l:
+ [ C : ~dt] , [ U ~ ( Xt,) ]
=o (8)
0 10 20 30 40 50 where
r IN
[ E k ( z h,,, t ) ] vector of the horizontal component of the
Fig. 4. Typical vertical electric field at 2 km from the lightning channel for incident electric field along the .r axis at the conductor's
a natural subsequent return stroke. Solid line--experimental data (from [9]).
Dotted line--calculation adopting the MTL model (A = 1.7 km). height hi, where the subindex i denotes the particular wire
of the multi-wire line;
[ R l j ] [ L l j ] ,[ G ! , j ] ,and [ C i j ] resistance, inductance, con-
ductance, and capacitance matrices respectively, per unit
length of the line, where the subindex zj denotes the
mutual resistance, inductance, conductance, and capacitance
between the Sith and the jth wires, respectively;
[ i i ( x ,t ) ] line current vector;
[uf(z. t ) ] scattered voltage vector, related to
[u,(z,t ) ] , total line voltage vector, by the following ex-
pression.

[ ' U L ( Z ,t ) ] = [7g(z.t ) ] + [,u:(z.t ) ]

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8
lwl
Fig. 5. Comparison between calculated and measured vertical electric field at
50 m from a triggered lightning return stroke channel. Solid line--experimental
data (from [lo]). Dotted line--calculation adopting the MTL model ( A = 1.7
km).
The above justifies the adoption of the MTL model for the
calculation of the electromagnetic field radiated by lightning
return strokes.
111. CALCULATION OF INDUCED VOLTAGES
A. Coupling between Electromagnetic Field and Overhead Line
In this paper, use is made of the model in the time domain
proposed by Agrawal et al. [29], based on the transmission
line theory for field-to-transmission line coupling calculations.
According to this model, the forcing functions that excite the
line are the horizontal and vertical components of the incident
electric field (E: and E:), that is, as already defined in Section
11-B, the sum of the field radiated by the lightning return stroke
and the ground-reflected field in absence of the line wires. Note
that the total field E is given by the sum of the incident field
El and the scattered field E S .
A time-domain approach permits to deal with the problem
in a more straightforward way and to take more easily into
account nonlinearities. Its main disadvantage lies in the more
complex treatment of frequency-dependant parameters, such
as the ground resistance [3O]. The convolution theorem in the
time domain, however, can be used for this purpose (e.g., [3I]).
1.0
where: E l ( z .z , t ) incident (or inducing) vertical electric field
that can be considered as unvarying in the height range
0 < z < hi; and [ui(x, t)]=
h
-[So
E:(z, z , t)dz] % -[hi .
E i ( z ,0 . t ) ] incident (or inducing) voltage vector.
The boundary conditions for the scattered voltage vector
[ u B ( z . t ) ]which
, take into account the coupling between the
incident field and the vertical terminations-the "risers"-are
[u;'(z0.t ) ] = -[zA4] +
. ["(zo. t ) ] [hi . El(zo.0. tu (IO)
+
[u;(3!o 1. t ) ]= [Z,] . ["(zo + +
1. t ) ] [hi . Ei(ao 1 ; 0: t ) ] +
(1 1 )
where [Z,] and [Z,] are the matrices of the termination
impedances.
Using the above mathematical formalism, the equivalent
circuit for the case of a lossless single wire above a perfect
conducting ground excited by an incident electromagnetic field
is shown in Fig. 6.
B. Comparison with Experimental Results
Equations (7)-( 11) have been solved by means of a com-
puter code using the point-centered finite-difference technique.
Calculated values have been compared with experimental
results recorded in Florida during the measurement campaigns
carried out in 1985. The experimental data consist of simul-
taneous measurements of vertical electric field and voltage at

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80 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY, VOL 35, NO. I , FEBRUARY 1993

'9 i
- h El(x.0)

- -
Fig. 6 . Equivalent circuit of a lossless single-wire overhead line excited by
0 20 40 60

Measured E, field
80

r)
1
100
[MI
0 20 40

E, field
60 80
I
100
[PI

lightning return-stroke electromagnetic field.

A
.-
EO

-0.061 \I 0 20 40 60 80
Measured voltage (*) '
100
Calculated voltage
IP'

-0.08
0 20 40 60 80 100 0 20 40 60 80 100
I /Wl 1 /PI Fig. 8. Example of comparison between measurements and calculations of
Measured E, field r) E, field voltages induced by lightning return stroke. o = 6'; line open circuited at
both ends. *Experimental data taken from 1141.

of error: nonuniformity of ground conductivity, modeling of

the terminations as pure resistances, and the fact that the
ground impedance has been calculated neglecting its frequency
dependence.

0 20 40 60 80 100 0 20 40
1 /PI
Measured voltage r) Calculated voltage
Fig. 7. Example of comparison between measurements and calculations of
voltages induced by lightning retum stroke. 0 = 4>.4', line open circuited
at both ends. *Experimental data provided by the Lightning Research Group
of the University of Florida.
one end of the top conductor of a 450-m-long three-phase
unenergized overhead distribution line. The azimuth angle of
the incident field was also measured (see [I41 for further
detail about the test facility).
For all the examined cases (about 20), we have obtained
satisfactory agreement for the waveshapes, but less good
agreement for the amplitudes. Two examples of comparison
are shown in Figs. 7 and 8. We summarize briefly hereunder
the procedure used for the comparison.
The low value of the measured vertical field E,, as can
be seen in Figs. 7(a) and 8(a), indicates that the lightning
struck the ground at a distance far from the line and hence the
field intensity can be considered as constant along the line;
for the same reason the horizontal field can be calculated with
reasonable approximation from the digitized values of the ver-
tical one using (6) [see Figs. 7(b) and 8(b)]. In (6), the ground
conductivity cghas been fixed at 1 . G . 1 V 2 R-l/m, as resulted
from measurements, and the relative ground permittivity c,. has
been assumed equal to 10. As suggested in [14], a value of
0.05 R/m has been adopted for the resistance per unit length
of the line (conductor plus ground). It can be seen that the
calculated voltages at the line termination [Figs. 7(d) and 8(d)]
are in reasonable agreement with the measured ones [Figs.
7(c) and 8(c), especially if considering the various sources
60 80 100
1 /PI IV. Analysis of the Induced Voltages
We consider a 1-km-long 10-m-high single wire overhead
line, matched at both ends. Matching the line avoids the effect
of reflections on the induced voltages at the line ends that
would make the discussion of the results less straightforward;
for the same reason, the line has been considered as single
phase. The relative position of the line with respect to the
striking point is defined by 20 and y o (see Fig. 1). The striking
point is considered equidistant from the line terminations and
at a distance of 50 m from the line center (3.0 = -500 m and
yo = 50 m). Lower values of yo are assumed to result in a
direct strike to the line.
Since the electromagnetic field that excites the line is at
a distance range lower than about 500 m, for the following
analysis the hypothesis of an infinite conducting ground has
been assumed as reasonable. The line resistance as well as
the line conductance are neglected; further, no corona effect
is taken into account, which means that the induced voltages
are presumably overestimated.
A base case to which the analysis is referred has been
specified, as described next.
A. Buse Cuse
For the base case, the lightning channel-base current of Fig.
2 has been adopted. This current has a peak value of 12 kA
and a maximum time-derivative of 50 kA/ps, corresponding,
as already mentioned, to the average experimental data for
a subsequent retum stroke reported in [22]. For the MTL
model, a retum-stroke velocity of 1.3 . lo8 m/s and a decay
constant X of 1.7 km (211 have been assumed. The channel

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NUCCI et al.: LIGHTNING-INDUCED VOLTAGES 81

height has been fixed for all the calculations equal to 7.5 km
-
1181; however, this parameter
1 has been: shown not to affect
? 6 ..-.x.-.
.. 0.. .Ex conrribulion
.x. .-.Incident
-o- Voltage
significantly the radiated electromagnetic fields [32], [33] and,
hence, the induced voltages. 40
\$ ----n----A--Riwrrconlribution

The voltage induced at three points of the line (zol = -500

m; 2 0 2 = -250 m; 2 0 3 = 0 m) is presented in Fig. 9. The
contribution to the total voltage of 1) the incident voltage;
20 4 I I
2) the voltage due to the horizontal field; and 3) the voltage
due to the coupling of the vertical field to the vertical line * .....
terminations (risers contribution), is represented in the same *---- *
figure. The latter two components of the voltage are the two -20 -2
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
terms that form the scattered voltage. Note that the voltage f I!&
due to the vertical field is the sum of the first and the third
terms (incident voltage plus risers contribution).
From Fig. 9(a), (b), and (c), it can be seen that according to
the employed coupling model, both the vertical and horizontal
components of the electric field are of fundamental importance
in the coupling mechanism. However, it is worth noting
that the contribution to the total voltage of the vertical field
(incident voltage plus risers) decreases along the line moving
away from the point closest to the striking point, in agreement
with what is observed by Diendorfer [SI.
For the examined case, the total voltage shows a positive
and unipolar waveshape for each of the considered observation b)
points. It is interesting to observe that while the contribution
-40 ->
of the vertical field to the total voltage at each point is of
positive polarity, the horizontal field coupling may result in
a contribution of positive [Fig. 9(a)], bipolar [Fig. 9(b)], or
* - .-..Q ....e._..
~.
negative [Fig. 9(c)] polarity.
Different locations of the striking point, as well as different -0- - - Incident Voliagc
line terminations [14], however, could result in negative or ---X--- X - - - E, convihiion
100
bipolar induced voltages.
In what follows, the influence of some characteristic param-
eters related to the lightning discharge on the amplitude and
waveshape of the induced voltage is examined. -1oA ’$\\

B. Peak Value and Muximum Time Derivative of the

Lightning Current at the Channel Base
In this study, use is made of the values reported by Berger et
al. [22], referring to peak value and maximum time derivative
for subsequent negative return strokes (see Table 11).
From (4), ( S ) , and ( 2 ) , it results that both the horizontal
and the vertical field intensities are proportional to the current
intensity independently from the return stroke current model
used in (4) and (5); as (7)-(9) are linear equations, it follows
that an increase of a factor n of the channel-base current
intensity will result in the same increase for both the peak
value and the maximum time derivative of the induced voltage,
as confirmed by calculations.
However, in order to assess separately the influence of
the peak value and of the maximum time derivative, we
have varied singularly each one independently from the other.
In each case the suitable coefficients for function (2) have
been determined in order to reproduce the values reported in
Table 11. The variation of the peak value keeping constant the
maximum time derivative of the current at 40 kA/ps is shown
in Fig. 10 (see also Table I11 for numerical values).
\003-
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
I lPl
Fig. 9. Voltages induced at different positions along a I-kmmatched
overhead line by a typical subsequent retum stroke: (a) line terminations;
(b) 250 m from line terminations; (c) middle point of the line. Striking point
equidistant from the line ends (xu = -500 m, yu = 50 m). Channel-base
current of Fig. 2. The contributions to the total voltage of the incident voltage,
of the voltage due to the horizontal electric field, and of the voltage due to
the vertical electric field coupling to the risers are also shown. The first and
third terms represent the contribution of the vertical field to the total voltage.
The time origin is shifted by yo/c.
The influence of the maximum time derivative of the
channel-base current, keeping constant the peak value at 12
kA, is shown in Fig. 11. For an increase of a factor 10 in the
examined range, the induced voltage maximum front steepness
(time derivative) increases by a factor of 4, whereas the peak
voltage increases only by a factor of about 1.4 (see Table 111).
C. Return-Stroke Velocity
In this paper we vary the return-stroke velocity, keeping
constant the intensity of the current, even though correla-

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82 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY, VOL. 3.5. NO. 1, FEBRUARY 1993

TABLE I1
PEAKVALUEA N D MAXIMUM
TYPICAL TIMEDERIVATIVE
OF THE
CHANNEL-BASE
CURRENT RETURNSTROKE[22]
r ( 0. t j FOR A SUBSEQUENT
Parameter Percent of Cases Exceeding Tabulated Value
95 9% 50% 5%

Peak value 4.6 12 30

(kA)

Maximum 12 40 I20
time derivative
(kA/ps) , . .
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
r [PI
140 Fig. 1 1 . Influence of the maximum time derivative of the channel-base
current on the induced voltage.
?
120i

: 100

i7 80

60

40

20

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 5
r IN
Fig. IO. Influence of the peak value of the channel-babe current on the
induced voltage.
f IWI

TABLE I11 Fig. 12. Influence of the return stroke velocity on the induced voltage.
INFLUENCE OF LIGHTNING DISCHARGEPARAMETERS ON THE PEAK
VALUEl , , MAXIMUM TIMEDERIVATIVE( d l - / d t ),,,,,, RISE
TIMEf:3(,p<jocA,TIME-TO-HALF
VALUE OF THE INDUCED and calculations are presented in Fig. 12. It can be seen that,
VOLTAGE.CALCULATIONS PERFORMED USINGTHE MTL MODEL for the given configuration, an increase in the return-stroke
Case velocity results in a marked increase of the induced voltage
front steepness but does not affect very much the peak value
Base (see also numerical values in Table 111). This result can be
explained, considering the contribution of the different field
66 190 0.5 I .4 terms to the total electric field and hence on the induced
voltage. At close distance from the lightning channel, the
radiation term is responsible only for the initial fast-rising part
of the field. During this early period, this term increases nearly
I , = 1.6 kA 28 I 05 0.3 1.1 proportionally to the return-stroke velocity; soon after the
electrostatic term, the amplitude of which decreases slightly
with the velocity [32],becomes predominant.
I , = 30 kA 133 225 0.7 2. I
Since experimental data on lightning seem to show a de-
crease of velocity with height for a kilometer scale [28], a ve-
50 65 0.8 2.2 locity decreasing along the channel has been considered. How-
ever, no significant variation in voltages have been found using
72 290 0.3 1.1 an exponentially decreasing velocity 'ti = '00 exp( -z'/y), with
y varying from 0.5 km to infinity.
69 120 0.7 2.2
D. Lightning Return-Stroke Models
I' = 2 ' lo* m / s 61 220 0.3 0.8 Several return-stroke current models with specified channel-
base current have been proposed in the past years; some of
these, namely the Bruce and Golde (BG) [ 161; the transmission
line (TL) [17]; the Master, Uman, Lin and Standler (MULS)
tions between velocity and return stroke currents have been [ 181; the traveling current source (TCS) [ 191, and the modified
considered by other authors (e.g. [5], 1341). Three different transmission line (MTL) [20,2 11 have been recently reviewed
values for a constant return-stroke velocity along the channel, and compared in [33], assuming a common current waveshape
namely: 0.6. lo8, 1 . 3 . lo8,and 2.10' m/s, have been chosen, at the channel base.

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NUCCI et al.: LIGHTNING-INDUCED VOLTAGES
0 1 2 3 4 5
Fig. 13. Induced voltages calculated adopting two different lightning return
stroke models (MTL and TCS) starting from the same channel-base current
of Fig. 2.
TABLE IV
INDUCEDVOLTAGEPARAMETERS
CALCULATED Two
ADWTING
LIGHTN'NG RETURN-STRoKE (MTL A N D TCS)
STARTING FROM T H E S A M E CHANNEL-BASE
C U R R E N T OF FIG 2
Model (kv)
c 7 ~ l ( ~ [ - / ~ / ~ ) I ~ L z L Y t:iii-wu
(kV//ts)
MTL 66 190
TCS 74 260
It has been shown that all of them, apart from the TL model,
produce overall field shapes that are reasonable approxima-
tions to measured fields from natural lightning. Further, it
has been shown that they can be classified in two groups
depending on: 1) the treatment of the return-stroke wavefront
either as a discontinuity (BG, TCS) or as a fast-rising current
waveshape with finite rise time equal the rise time assumed for
the specified current at the channel base (TL, MULS, MTL);
and 2) the spatial and temporal distribution of charge removed
from the leader channel.
In order to show how the above-mentioned differences can
have an influence on the calculated voltages, one representative
model from each group, namely the TCS and the MTL models,
have been selected for comparison. The spatial-temporal distri-
bution of the lightning current for the TCS model is reported
in Appendix A.
The induced voltages calculated starting from the same
channel-base current represented in Fig. 2 and assuming the
same line configuration and same impact point defined in
Section IV-A, are shown in Fig. 13. It can be seen that the
wave-shapes of the induced voltages predicted by the two
models are quite similar, but the TCS model yields higher
peak value and maximum front-steepness (see Table IV). This
difference can be explained considering that the TCS model
produces sharper and more intense initial field peaks than does
the MTL [33].
For the same conditions, the voltages calculated using the
other models (BG, TL, MULS) exhibit peak value and max-
imum front steepness that are practically equal (TL, MULS)
or greater (BG) than those predicted by the MTL, and do not
exceed those obtained using the TCS.
We can conclude that peak value and maximum front
steepness of the induced voltages calculated adopting other
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83
lightning return-stroke models differ, and that these differences
are of the same order of magnitude as those that would result
from different sets of characteristic parameters of the lightning
discharge (compare Tables 111 and IV).
It is worth mentioning that a new model, physically oriented
and consistent with experimental results, has been recently
proposed by Diendorfer and Uman [35]. Due to the fact
that the channel-base current according to this model is the
sum of two components and their choice may not always
be straightforward, this model has not been used for the
6 7 8 comparison. Further work, however, is needed in this re-
f I N spect.
E. Discussion ( f Other Coupling Models
In the power-lightning literature, coupling equations ex-
pressed in terms of total voltage, introduced by Rusck [ 5 ]
(see (B-1) and (B-2) of Appendix B), have been adopted
by several authors for the determination of lightning-induced
voltages on overhead lines (e.g., [6), [ 131, [ 151, [38]). These
equations differ from (7) and (8). Since the two approaches
f ~ i (/IS)
~ ( ~ are not equivalent and since the authors feel that, in this
(Its)
respect, a general agreement has not yet been reached, a
0.5 I .4
further discussion is given in what follows. Without loos-
0.3 I .2
ing generality, we shall consider a lossless line and a per-
fect conducting ground, since (B-I) and (B-2) refer to this
case.
It can be seen [36] that (7) and (8) (neglecting the line
resistance and the line conductance since we are now consid-
ering a lossless line), which are expressed in terms of scattered
voltage, are equivalent to another couple of equations given
by Taylor et al. [37], which are written in terms of total line
voltage (see (B-4) and (B-5) of Appendix B). These equations
contain two source terms, which are due, respectively, to
the incident (or inducing) magnetic flux density field [series
voltage source, in (B-4)] and to the incident (inducing)vertical
electric field [parallel current source, in (B-5)). Since (B-2) is
equivalent to (B-5), the above allows us to conclude that in the
coupling set of two equations (B-I) and (B-2), a source term
is omitted, namely the contribution of the incident magnetic
flux density field [compare (B-1) with (B-4)].
The result of omitting that source term can lead to a less
accurate estimation of the induced voltages and, in some
cases, to their underestimation. This is shown in Fig. 14,
where the induced voltage calculated adopting the coupling
model by Rusck [described by (B-I) and (B-2)] is compared
with voltages calculated adopting the Agrawal et al. [(7) and
(8)] and the Taylor et al. [(B-4) and (B-5)] models. For
the calculation, we considered a 500-m-long line, matched
at both ends, with a striking point along the line prolonga-
tion at 50 m from the left line termination. The difference
between the calculated voltages is quite evident: the Rusck
voltage has a peak value of 19 kV, while the Agrawal et
a/. (and Taylor et ul.) voltage reaches a value of about 33
kV.
It is worth observing that the magnetic field source term
in (B-4) can be expressed in terms of both horizontal and
vertical electric field components as shown by ( 1 2), which
can be derived from Maxwell's equations [29]
84 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY, VOL. 35, NO. 1, FEBRUARY 1993

magnitude as those that would result from different sets

of characteristic parameters of the lightning discharge.
It has also been shown that a different coupling model used
in the power-lightning literature by several other authors, in
which a source term is omitted, may result in a less accurate
estimation of the intensity of the induced voltages.
Further theoretical work, as well as other experimental
results, are needed in order to better estimate the influence
on the induced voltages of ground characteristics and possible
corona effects.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 APPENDIXA
f IP1 SPATIAL-TEMPORAL
DISTRIBUTIONOF LIGHTNING
CURRENT ACCORDINGTO THE TRAVELING
Fig. 14. Calculated voltage at the left line termination of a 500-m matched
overhead line according to the Rusck (dotted line) and the Agrawal er al. and CURRENTSOURCE(TCS) MODEL [19]
Taylor et al. (solid line) models. Striking point along the line prolongation at
50 m from left line termination. In the TCS model, developed by Heidler ,191, a current
source is assumed to travel along the channel from ground
to cloud at the retum stroke velocity. The current flows into
the lightning channel from the traveling source to the ground
with the speed of light. The spatial-temporal distribution of
B&(X,Z,t ) d z = - E:(z. hi, t ) the lightning current is
t ) = i ( O , t + z ' / c ) , for z' 5 vt
+ d .kl hr
E 4 ( 2 . z ,t ) d z . (12)
where
z(z',
i ( 2 . t ) = 0: for z' > lit (A- 1)

V. CONCLUSIONS c speed of light; and

'u retum stroke velocity.
For the calculation of voltages induced by indirect lightning
return strokes on overhead lines one needs 1) a lightning
retum-stroke model for the calculation of the electromagnetic APPENDIXB
field; and 2) a field-to-transmission line coupling model. The system of equations presented by Rusck [ 5 ] describing
The MTL lightning retum-stroke model and the coupling the coupling between lightning electromagnetic field and a
model based on the transmission line theory, adopted in this lossless wire above a perfect conducting ground, in the form
paper, give results in reasonable agreement with existing used by several other authors (e.g., [6], [13], [.l5], [38]) reads
experimental data.
These two models have been applied for the analysis of the
i,,u(z, t )
d:1.
+ L'-d i (ats ,t ) = O (B-1)
voltages induced on a 1-km-long overhead line by a typical di(z,t) i,
subsequent retum stroke with striking point close to the line
dr
+C7(?L(.Lt)
dt
- d(.C,t) =0
and equidistant from the line terminations. In addition, the
results have been compared with those obtained adopting where ~ ( 5t ),and i ( x ,t ) are the total line voltage and current,
different lightning return stroke models. t ) is the so-called inducing voltage defined as (see
and uLi(lc,
The study allows to conclude that: also Section 111-A)
the vertical and horizontal components of the electric
field for distance ranges not exceeding a few hundred
meters can be calculated with reasonable approximation
u ' ( L ,t ) = -
I" E ~ ( . EZ ,. t ) d z zz -h . E ~ ( x0,, t )

The Taylor et al. coupling equations for a lossless wire

(B-3)

assuming the ground as a perfect conductor, even though

above a perfect conducting ground, adapted to the coordinate
the determination of the horizontal component requires
system used in this paper and expressed in the time domain,
a more rigorous approach for poor values of the ground
read [37]
conductivity;
the peak value and the maximum time derivative of the
channel-base current affect both the peak value and the
d'lL(.C,2)
+ L d /' (atJ At ) = -fIa 'L
Bi(z,z,t)dz (B-4)
maximum front steepness of the induced voltages. On
the other hand, for the examined case, the return stroke
velocity affects practically only the front steepness of the
induced voltages; where Bb(z.z.t ) is the component along the y axis of the
peak value and maximum front steepness of the induced incident magnetic-flux density field.
voltages calculated using other lightning return-stroke While (B-2) is equivalent to (B-5), (B-1) differs from (B-4)
models differ; these differences are of the same order of due to the missing source term.

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NUCCl et ai.: LIGHTNING-INDUCED VOLTAGES
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors are indebted to Prof. M. A. Uman and to Dr. M.
Rubinstein for the provided sets of experimental results and
for discussions‘ thanks are due to Prof. D.
Zanobetti for profitable discussions during the development of
work.
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C. Leteinturier, C. Weidman, and J. Hamelin, “Current and electric field
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M. J. Master, M. A. Uman, W. Beasley, and M. DarveniLa, “Lightning
induced voltages on power lines: Experiments,” IEEE Trun.c. Pobver App.
Syst., vol. PAS-103, pp. 2519-2529, Sept. 1984.
F. De la Rosa, R. Valdivia, H. Perez, and J. Loza, “Discussion about
the inducing effects of lightning in an experimental power distribution
line in Mexico,” IEEE Truns. Power Delivery, vol. 3 , pp. 1080-1089,
July 1988.
S. Yokohama, K. Miyake, and S. Fukui, “Advanced observations of
lightning induced voltage on power distribution lines,” IEEE Truns.
Power Deliveiy, vol. 4, pp. 2196-2203, Oct. 1989.
M. Rubinstein, A. Y. Tzeng, M. A. Uman, P. J. Medelius, and E.
W. Thomson, “An experimental test of a theory of lightning-induced
voltages on an overhead wire,” IEEE Truns. Electromagn. Cumpat., vol.
31, pp. 376383, Nov. 1989.
P. Chowdhuri, “Analysis of lightning-induced voltages on overhead
lines,” IEEE Trans. Power Delivety, vol. 4, pp. 479492, Jan. 1989.
C. Bruce and R. M. Golde, “The lightning discharge,” J. Inst. Elec.
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M. J. Master, M. A. Uman, Y. T. Lin and R. B. Standler, “Calculations
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F. Heidler, “Traveling current source model for LEMP calculation,” in
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C. A. Nucci, C. Mazzetti, F. Rachidi, and M. lanoz, “On lightning return
stroke models for LEMP calculations,” in Proc. 19th Int. Cot$ Lightning
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C. A. Nucci and F. Rachidi, “Experimental validation of a modification
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associated with establishing a finite electrostatic dipole,” Ant. J. Phy c...
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no. 51, pp. 118-126, 1983.
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temporel et friquentiel”, Anrzales des n’eR’ecommunications, vol. 43,
no. 11-12, pp. 625-637, 1988.
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Mazzetti, “Lightning return stroke models with specified channel-base
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Carlo Alberta Nucci (M’91) was born in Bologna,
Italy, on October 21, 1956. He received the degree
in electrical engineering in 1981 from the University
of Bologna
In 1982, he joined the LJniversity of Bologna
a\ a Re\earcher in the Power Electncal Engineer-
ing Imtitute, where he is now Associate Professor
of Power System\ His research interests concern
lightning and nuclear EMP impact on power lines,
power system? simulation, and the study of power
components including medium voltage capacitors
dnd traction batteries He I $ author or coauthor of about 30 scientific papers
presented at internatlonal conferences and publi\hed in reviewed journals
Farhad Rachidi was born in Geneva, Switzerland,
in 1962. He received the M.S. degree in electrical
engineering and the Ph.D. degree from the Swiss
Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, Switzer-
land, in 1986 and 1991, respectively.
He is currently working at the Power Network
Laboratory at this institute. His research interests
concern lightning and EMP interactions with power
lines. He is the author or coauthor of more than 15
scientific papers published in reviewed journals and
presented at international conferences.
86 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY, VOL. 35, NO. I , FEBRUARY 1993

Michel V. Ianoz (SM’85) was born in 1936. He
received the B.S. degree in electrical engineering
from the Polytechnical School of Bucarest, Ro-
mania, and the Ph.D. degree from the Moscow
University, Moscow, U.S.S.R., in 1968.
He worked on magnetic field calculations for par-
ticle accelerators and focusing devices at the Joint
Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, U.S.S.R.,
and at the European Center for Nuclear Research
(CERN), Geneva. Since 1975 he joined the Power
Network Laboratorv of the Swiss Institute of Tech-
nology, Lausanne Switzerland, where he is presently teaching EMC as a
Professor of the Electrical Department and is engaged in research activities on electrical insulation. His activities include design and test experience on
concerning the calculation of electromagnetic fields, transient phenomena,
lightning, and EMP effects on power and telecommunication networks. He
is coauthor of a book on high-voltage engineering, editor of a book on
electromagnetic compatibility, and author or coauthor of about 80 scientific Group of the Italian National Research Council. He is author and coauthor of
papers.
Dr. Ianoz is chairman of the Swiss National Committee of the URSI, mem-
ber of the Study Committee 36 “Perturbations” of CIGRE, and of the WGlO of
the TC77 (EMC) of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). He
is also an Associate Editor of the IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTROMAGNETIC
COMPATIBILITY.
Carlo Mazzetti (M’90) was born in Rome, Italy,
in 1943. He received the Dr. Ing. degree in electri-
cal engineering from the University of Rome “La
Sapienza,” Italy, in 1967.
In 1967 he joined the University of Rome, first as
a Scientist in High-Voltage (HV) Problems and then
as an Assistant Professor of Advanced Electrical
Engineering. In 1974 he became Associate Professor
in High-Voltage Engineering, and since 1986 he is
Full Professor in the same field. Since 1967 his main
interests have been the HV transient analysis and
measurements with particular reference to lightning effects and diagnostic tests
fluid insulations and studies on lightning electromagnetic fields. From 1986
to 1989 he was Director of the Electrical Engineering Department of the
University of Rome “La Sapienza,” and from March 1989 Director of the HV
more than 50 scientific papers.
Dr. Mazzetti is a member of the Italian Electrotechnical Committee (CEV81)
and the International Electrotechnical Commission (1EC/81) on Lightning
Protection.

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