Lightning strike and electromagnetic protection system

A composite article for incorporation at the surface of an assembly, the composite article being capable of withstanding a lightning strike by dissipating the energy of the lightning strike and by shielding the assembly from electromagnetic energy associated with the lightning strike, the composite article comprising:

• a base structure comprised of a material exhibiting electrical conductivity inadequate to dissipate lightning strike energy and inadequate to shield the assembly from associated electromagnetic energy, the base structure having an outer face;
• and
• an electrically-conductive lightning shield comprising:
• an electrically-conductive ground plane secured against the outer face of the base structure, the ground plane comprising a metal chemical-vapor-deposition coated non-woven material embedded in a matrix otherwise exhibiting electrical conductivity inadequate to dissipate lightning strike energy and inadequate to shield the assembly from associated electromagnetic energy;
• and
• an electrically-conductive skin disposed on the ground plane comprising an embedment of electrically-conductive nanostrands.

A composite article for incorporation at the surface of an assembly, the assembly thereby being enabled to withstand a lightning strike by dissipating the energy of the lightning strike and by shielding the assembly from electromagnetic energy associated with the lightning strike, the composite article comprising:

• a base structure comprised of a material exhibiting electrical conductivity inadequate to dissipate lightning strike energy and inadequate to shield the assembly from associated electromagnetic energy, the base structure having an outer face;
• and
• an electrically-conductive lightning shield comprising:
• an electrically-conductive ground plane secured against the outer face of the base structure;
• an electrically-conductive skin disposed on the ground plane comprising an embedment of electrically-conductive nanostrands;
• and
• a substantially uniform distribution of electrically-conductive nanostrands co-cured into the base structure.

An assembly capable of withstanding a lightning strike, the surface of the assembly dissipating the energy of the lightning strike and providing a shield from electromagnetic energy associated with the lightning strike, the assembly comprising:

• a base structure comprised of a material exhibiting electrical conductivity inadequate to dissipate lightning strike energy and inadequate to shield from associated electromagnetic energy, the base structure having an outer face;
• a first electrically-conductive lightning shield secured against the outer face of the base structure;
• a second electrically-conductive lightning shield secured against the outer face of the base structure in a non-overlapping relationship to the first lightning shield with an edge of the second lightning shield opposing an edge of the first lightning shield;
• and
• an electrically-conductive interface interconnecting the edge of the first lightning shield and the opposing edge of the second lightning shield, the interface comprising a substantially uniformly-distributed embedment of electrically-conductive nanostrands in an electrically-nonconductive matrix.