IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol. 14, No.
2, April 1999
Calculation of Lightning Current Parameters
F. Heidler J.M.CvetiC, Member, IEEE
Faculty of Electrical Engineering Faculty of Electrical
Federal Armed Forces University Engineering, University of
Munich, Germany Belgrade, Yugoslavia
Abstract: The new expression of the lightning current at the striking point is
analyzed. The basic four channel-base lightning current quantities are assumed
to be known: current peak value, current rise-time, maximum of the current
steepness and the charge transfer at the striking point. The algorithm for a fast
calculation of the channel-base current parameters is proposed. The numerical
example of the current parameters determination is given. The proposed
algorithm can be successfully used for the lightning current modelling in the
power engineering as well as in the research of the radiated lightning
electromagnetic pulse and its coupling with the overhead lines and other
metallic structures.
Keywords: Lightning current modelling, lightning retum stroke parameters,
lightning measurements.
I. INTRODUCTION
In former lightning research many channel-base current
functions have been proposed based on direct measurements
performed at the top of high towers [I], [ 2 ] .During the return
stroke period the lightning current flowing along the lightning
channel initiates the radiation of the lightning electromagnetic
pulse (LEMP). For earth flashes the retum stroke channel
located between the earth and the thundercloud acts as a
transmitting antenna. The lightning channel-base current can
be indirectly recalculated from the measurements of the distant
LEMP using the appropriate return stroke model [3], [4], [ 5 ] .
Some analytical functions, mostly due to their simplicity are
usually used in power engineering modelling the direct
lightning stroke in different earthed objects (high voltage
towers, lightning arresters, buildings etc).
PE-204-PWRD-0-05-1998 A paper recommended and approved by the
IEEE Surge Protective Devices Committee of the IEEE Power
Engineering Society for publication in the IEEE Transactions on Power
Delivery. Manuscript submitted December 15, 1997; made available for
printing May 18, 1998.
0885-8977/99/$10.00 0 1998 IEEE
399
B.V. StaniC
Faculty of Electrical
Engineering, University of
Belgrade, Yugoslavia
On the other hand, their features were not always convenient
for the study of the radiated LEMP. For example, with
existing analytical functions the field derivatives of positive
and negative first strokes could not be satisfactorily simulated.
The main problem was the elimination of the discontinuity of
the current derivative at the time onset.
Basically two different methods can be applied to the current
parameter calculation: (1) a direct method permiting the
determination of the channel-base current function based on
the measurements at the top of high towers or an indirect, by
the recalculation from the measured distant LEMP,
(2) an iterative method in which the lightning channel-base
current and the return stroke model are assumed to be known
enabling the calculation of the corresponding LEMP at any
(preferably nearer) distance. The lightning current is defined
as input parameter for the return stroke model. If the
measured and the calculated LEMP do not agree, the channel-
base current parameters are changed. The procedure is
repeated until the matching becomes satisfactorily good. More
recently, in the research of triggered lightning the combination
of both methods is used to check the validity of the
appropriate return stroke model [6], [ 7 ] .
An adequate channel-base current function would be a
function yielding simultaneously a good approximation to the
observed shape of the current at the base of the return stroke
channel and to usually measured lightning current quantities
such as current peak, maximum of the current steepness,
charge transfer etc. An analytical current function should
allow a separate investigation of the lightning current
quantities since they are of special interest in the current
modelling.
In the LEMP research the second time-derivation of the
current is necessary for the calculation of field derivatives.
Therefore the current function must be able to be differentiated
at least twice i.e. the first time-derivation of the current is not
allowed to have a discontinuity at the time onset.
Finally, from engineer’s point of view, it is of great
importance that the calculation of the current parameters is
easy and fast. Unfortunately, to calculate simultaneously all
current parameters, for most of considered channel-base
functions it is necessary to solve the system of four or more
nonlinear integral equations. Very often the system has no real
solutions for the chosen channel-base function and for the
 400
given lightning current quantities.
Aiming to overcome similar difficulties and simplify the
calculation of the lightning current parameters in the present
IEEE practice the extrapolating back from the peak at the
maximum current steepness is used giving an equivalent rise
time in the range of 1.5 to 4 ps . In this procedure the current
peak, maximum of the current steepness and the current rise
time are connected.
Due to easy differentiation and integration the most frequent
expression used for channel-base lightning current has the
form of the double exponential function [SI:
i , [
= ~(l0/rl) exp( -t/t ,>- exp( - t / t 2 )]
where Io - the maximum value of the current, q - correction
factor of the current peak, t l and t2 - time constants
determining current rise- and current decay-time as well as the
maximum of the current steepness. This function has the
discontinuity of the first derivative at the time onset t=O and
therefore it is not convenient for the LEMP calculations.
Many functions, numerical techniques and methods have
already been used allowing lightning surge researchers to
circumvent the "discontinuity problem". For example to
decrease the discontinuity of the first derivative of the current
at the time onset the modified function has been proposed by
Jones [9]
i,(t) =Uo/Il) [exp(-t*lr,) -exp(-t'/t2)2],
where t * = t:/t, + t . The current function with similar features
is given by Gardner et nl, [lo]
io@) =(Zo/q) [exPC ( t - t , ) / t * ) +exP((t-r,)/r,)]-' .
The current function having no discontinuity of the first
derivative at the time onset has the form [ 111
i,(t) =&h) exp(-r2/2t) .
A complicated calculation of the current parameters connected
with the impossibility of independent investigation of the
lightning current quantities is the main shortcoming of the
channel-base current functions given by (2), (3) and (4).
In this paper a new expression of the channel-base current
function is analyzed [5]. This function is convenient for the
lightning current modelling in the power engineering as well
as in the research of the radiated LEMP and its coupling with
overhead lines and other metallic structures.
11. CHANNEL-BASE CURRENT FUNCTION
Former lightning research studies [4], [ 121, [ 131 have shown
that the channel-base current can be split into two components:
the breakdown current and the corona current flowing after the
breakdown current is initiated. Lin et al, [4] were the first to
postulate the generation of both currents: the breakdown
current is proposed to be generated along the channel core,
upper parts of the channel flows radially to the channel core.
This assumption is used later to calculate the radiated LEMP
more precisely [12], 1131. The breakdown current has a few
times greater magnitude but its duration is much shorter than
that of the corona current [12]. Hence, the charge transfer i.e.
the decay time to a half value of the current at the striking
point depends practically only on the corona current. The
breakdown current produces the peak of the radiated LEMP as
well as the peak of the field steepness. The typical values of
the breakdown current peak and the breakdown current
steepness for the negative subsequent return strokes lay in the
range of 5-30kA and 12-120kA/ps, respectively with the rise
, (1) time in the range of 0 . 2 - 4 . 5 ~[l],
~ [21.
Four characteristic lightning current quantities at the striking
point are usually measured: current peak ,oi , maximum of
the current steepness (di,/dt),, , rise-time to peak tp and the
charge transfer Qo. In the aim to investigate independently the
measured quantities permitting one current parameter to
determine each of them, a new channel-base lightning current
function is proposed [5]. The current is separated in two
functions representing the current rise-time (current rise-
function x ( t ) ) and the current decay-time (current decay-
function y(t)). The functional form of the current is given by
iO(0 = I 0 - m Y(t) 9 (5)
where Io is the current peak. During the decay-time of the
(2) current pulse the value of the current rise-function is x = l .
Similarly, the value of the current decay-function isy=l
during the rise-time of the current pulse. Besides, the current
rise- function contains the first derivative at the time onset
(3)
without discontinuities. The current rise- and the current
decay-function are represented with the power and the
exponential function respectively
(4) x(t> = k,"/(l+k,") , y(t> = exp(-t/.,> , (6)
where k s = t / r , , t 1 and t 2 are the time constants determining
current rise- and current decay-time, respectively, n is a
current steepness factor. Since for PO x(t) < 1 the maximum
of the current becomes less than I,, . Therefore, the correction
factor of the current maximum q is introduced. Its value can
be calculated from the equation
io(t=t')= Io , (7)
where t' is the time instant when the current attains the peak
value. Finally, the expression for the channel-base current can
be rewritten in the form
It is easy to prove that the continuity of the first current
derivative at the time onset is satisfied for the minimum value
of the current steepness factor n> 1 .
 401

111. CORRECTION FACTOR OF THE CURRENT PEAK I

n=2

The current correction factor q can be found from (7) if the

instant of time t' when the current attains the peak value is
known. Taking this into account t l can be obtained from the 3 T .' /-== n=4 \
equation di,(t')/dt =0, i.e. one obtains
=O , ks'=t'/zl .
ks1nt1+ks1-ni2/t1 (9) @- \ n=IO
The analytical solution of (9) cannot be given in the general
case for n>3. Assuming (ki)n>l (this assumption will be
proved at the end of the parameter calculation using its
concrete values), the analytical solution of (9) becomes
k,' = ( n t2/tl . (10)
'

0
V

5 10 20 50 100 200
T*lT, -
SO0 lob0 2000

Fig.2 The relative error E, of the current correction factor 7 in function of

the quotient TJT,. The current steepness factor n is used as a parameter.

From (10) it follows

t l = r1(nr2/t1)1/("+~) . (1 1) = 0
(d2io/dt2),=,, . (13)

The instant of time t' is simultaneously the rise-time of the Since the position of the maximum of the current steepness is
channel-base current i.e. r p = t ' . Using (7) and (11) the value at the current rise-time, it can be assumed y(t)=l in (5).
of the correction factor can be expressed as Hence, from (13) one obtains
q = exp - 2 , / r 2 (n T ~ / T , ) " ( ~ + ~ ).] (12) t, =t,& , fi =[(n-l)/(n+l)]'/" . (14)
[
In Fig. 1 the correction factor q in function of the quotient where t, is the instant of time when the current attains the
of the current time parameters t 2 / t lis depicted. Obviously, maximum steepness. Using (14) the maximum of the current
for great values of the current steepness factor n>l and steepness is
r2/t1>1 the correction factor takes the value q =1. (di0/dt)-= (Zo/rl) n/(4t1)fi
(15)
In Fig.2 the relative error of the correction factor calculated f, = (n2-1)/n2 [(n+l)/(n-1)]1'" .
by (12) relative to the exact value (obtained by the substitution
of the exact solution of (9) into (7)) is shown. For example,
For the great values of n one can assume f i = l , from (14) it
for the frequently accepted values of the current steepness
follows t, = t l . In this case the maximum current steepness is
factor n > 4 and the quotient r2/rl>10 the relative error of
(dio/dt),=Z0n/(4t,q) , n,l . (16)
the correction factor becomes very small, below 1 % .
1.0 Substituting (14) in (8) one obtains the magnitude of the
current when the current achieves the maximum steepness
0.9
io(t,> = &f,h f, =(n-1)/(2n) .
3 (17)
0.8
0.7 In Fig.3 the dependence of the functions fl , f2 and f3 on the
0.6 current steepness factor n is shown. From Figs.1 and 3
assuming r2/tl>l and for great values of n one obtains
0.5
q =1 and & = O S i.e. the maximum of the current steepness is
0.4 located approximately at the half of the current peak value.
0.3
0.2 V. CHARGE TRANSFER AT THE STRIKING POINT
0.1 7 2 3 4 5 6789' 13 2 3 i 6iai'
1 10 100 By integration of the current function the charge transfer at
the striking point is
Fig. 1 The dependence of the current correction factor 7 on the quotient of
the current time parameters T J T , . The current steepness factor n is used as
a parameter.

IV. MAXIMUM OF THE CURRENT STEEPNESS Assuming t2/tl>l and n > l , from (18) one obtains the
simple expression for the charge transfer
The maximum of the current steepness (dio/dt)m,xcan be a
0 =4)r2/q 9 (19)
calculated from the equation
 402

steepness can be adjusted with the parameter II in (15).

Current rise-time can be widely varied by the parameter z in
(1 1) whereas charge transfer at the striking point is defined by
1,2+
1
\(i the current parameter z2 in (19). In order to enable easy
calculation of current parameters let us define three
dimensionless variables
y1=(.(dio/dQ,,
,/I,> , (20)

[I 0.6 In Figs.4, 5 and 6 the graphs of the dimensionless variables

Yl , Y, and Y3 in function of the quotient T * / T ~ and the
current steepness factor n are drawn. These graphs are used
for the fast calculation of the lightning current parameters. As
an example, the measured values of the breakdown current
quantities at the striking point typical for the negative
n subsequent return strokes according to [l], [2], [12], [13]are
0 4
given in Table 1. We have chosen this current component
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 because it contains the current peak and the maximum of the
current steepness which from the engineer's point of view are
Fig.3 Functions f , , f2 and f, versus current steepness factor n. of the greatest importance for the LEMP calculations. On the
other hand the same procedure can be successfully used for
calculating the corona current parameters. Taking data from
VI. GRAPHICAL CALCULATION OF LIGHTNING Table 1, using (20) and (22) one obtains Y1=3.15and Y3=7.7.
CURRENT PARAMETERS From Figs.4 and 6 it follows n = 5 , q=O.84 and z , / ~ ~ = 1 3 .
The value of the current correction factor q can be confirmed
As it is shown previously, the new expression of the from the graph depicted in Fig. 1. The graph drawn in Fig.5
channel-base current permits a good separation of the gives the value of the dimensionless variable Yz=0.93.From
characteristic lightning current quantities. The current peak is (21) one calculates the values of the current time constants
defined with the parameter Zo in (5), maximum of the current z2=3.5ps and r l =0.27ps.
q =0.81[0.01]0.98

Fig are
 403

1.0
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3 -I
2 3 2 5 6 + 8 9 ' 23 2 3 k 56?r89'
I IO I00
Fig.5 Dimensionless function Y, as a function of the quotient T , / T , . Note that the function Y, depends very weakly on the current
steepness factor n.

n=lO [l]2
m

2 3 k k 6 i 8 9 ' 13 i! 3 k 561482
7 IO 100
Fig.6 Dimensionless function Y, as a function of the quotient r , / r , . The current steepness factor n is used as a parameter.
404
TABLE 1
THE CHARACTERISTIC MEASURED LIGHTNING QUANTITIES
AT THE STRIKING POINT [l], [2].
TABLE 2
CALCULATED VALUES OF THE CHANNEL-BASE CURRENT
PARAMETERS AT THE STRIKING POINT.
13 0.84 5 0.27 3.5
Finally, we shall check the validity of the assumption used in
the calculation of the current correction factor (10). For the
calculated values of the current constants n and ~ ~one/
obtains (k,')"= 32 > 1 . The calculated values of the current
parameters are listed in Table 2.
VII. CONCLUSION
We have analyzed a new expression of the channel-base
current which permits easy modelling of usually measured
lightning current quantities at the striking point: current peak,
current rise-time, maximum of the current steepness and the
charge transfer. Due to the suitable adopted functions
representing current rise- and current decay-time solving of the
system of the nonlinear integral equations is avoided.
A graphical algorithm for a fast calculation of the channel-base
current parameters is proposed. The numerical example of the
current parameters determination is given. The new lightning
current channel-base function can be successfully used for the
current modelling in the power engineering as well as in the
research of the radiated LEMP and its coupling with the
overhead lines and other metallic structures.
VIII. REFERENCES
[I1 K. Berger, R.B. Anderson, and H. Kroninger, "Parameters of
lightning flashes," Electra, No.41, 1975, p.23-37.
I21 R.B. Anderson and A.J.Erikson, "Lightning parameters for
engineering application," Electra, No.69, 1980, p.65-101.
[31 M.A. Uman and D. K. McLain, "Magnetic field of lightning
return stroke," J . Geophys. Res., 74, 1969, pp.6899-6910.
[41 Y .T. Lin, M.A.Uman, J.A.Tiller, R.D.Brantley , W.H.Beasley,
E.P.Krider, and C.D.Weidman, "Characterization of Lightning
Return Stroke Electric and Magnetic Fields from Simultaneous
Two-station Measurements," J. Geophys. Res., Vo1.84, No.ClO,
1979, p.6307-63 14.
[51 F. Heidler, Lightning Electromagnetic Impulse, Theorie und
Messungen, Ph.D. thesis, Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the
Federal Armed Forces University, Munich, 1987.
t61 J.C. Willet and J.C. Bailey, "Submicrosecond Intercomparison of
Radiation Fields and Currents in Triggered Lightning Return
Strokes Based on the Transmission-Line Model,'' J . Geophys. Res..
Vo1.94, No.Dl1, 1989, p.13,275-13,286.
R. Thottappillil and M.A.Uman, "Companson of Lightning
Retum-StrokeModels," J. Geophys. Res.. V01.98, No.Dl2, 1993,
p.22,903-22,914.
R.H. Golde, Lightning, Vol.1 & 2, London, Academic Press Inc.
1977.
R.D. Jones, "On the use of tailored return-stroke current
representation to simplify the analysis of lightning effect on
systems", IEEE Trans. on EMC, 1977, pp 95-96.
R.L. Gardner, Baker L., Baum C.E., Andersh D.J., "Companson
of lightning with public domain HEMP waveforms on the surface
of an aircraft", 6"' EMC Symposium, Zurich, 1985, pp. 175-180,
D. Raicic, "Beeinflussung einer Darstellungweise der
atmospharischen Entladung auf den maximalen Spannungswerten
in den einzelnen Punkten der einfacherenBlitzschutzinstallationen",
12" Internationale Blitzschutzkonferenz, Bericht R-2.12, Portoroz,
1973.
t ~
G. Diendorfer and M.A.Uman, "An improved return stroke model
with specified channel-base current ," J. Geophys. Res., Vo1.95,
1990, p. 13,621- 13,644.
R. Thottappillil and M.A.Uman, "Lightning return stroke model
with height-variable discharge time constant," J. Geophys. Res.,
Vo1.99, No.Dl1, 1994, p.22,773-22,780.
IX. BIOGRAPHIES
Fridolin Heidler was born in Giengen, Germany in 1955. He studied Faculty
of Electrical Engineering at the Technical University in Munich, where he
received the Master of Science degree in 1982. From 1982 to 1987 he joined
the Institute of High Voltage at the Federal Armed Forces University Munich,
where he received the Doctorate degree in 1988. From 1987 to 1991 hejoined
the "Industrieanlagen Betriebsgesellschaft IABG". In 1991 he returned to the
Institute of High Voltage at the Federal Armed Forces University Munich
where he is still working. Dr Heidler is member of the Munich Group of
Lightning Research which was established to measure lightning currents at the
telecommunication tower on the Hohen Peissenberg in a joint venture with the
T.U. Munich.
Jovan M. Cvetif (M'1996) was born in Kotor, Montenegro, Yugoslavia in
1962. He studied Electrical Engineering at the University of Belgrade
graduating with a B.Sc. in 1988 and an M.Sc. in 1993. In 1997 he is received
the Doctorate degree at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of
Belgrade. He is the author or coauthor of more than twenty scientific papers
in journals and at international conferences. His main research interests are
lightning return stroke modelling and LEMP interference.
Boiidar V. Stanif was born in 1936. After completing the Faculty of
Electrical Engineering at the University of Belgrade in 1959 he received his
M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in 1965 and 1970 respectively, at Belgrade
University. He is Professor in Physics and Physical Electronics and head of
the Department of Physical Electronics at the Faculty of Electrical
Engineering in Belgrade. His main research interest is in the field of
Electrodynamics of plasma such as the interaction of EMW with different
plasmas and conducting structures, microwave plasma diagnostics and
interaction of transient EMW with plasma.