Methods for forming a structure having a lightning strike protection

A lightning strike protection means for use in automatically forming a structure having lightning strike protection, said lightning strike protection means comprising:

• a reinforcement layer comprising a unidirectional fiber reinforced composite tape;
• a lightning strike protection strip disposed on said reinforcement layer, said lightning strike protection strip comprising a first material, and said reinforcement layer comprising a second material different from said first material;
• wherein said reinforcement layer and said lightning strike protection strip are operable to being automatically applied using at least one of a fiber placement apparatus, a tape laying apparatus, and similar automated manufacturing means, and said reinforcement layer supporting said lightning strike protection strip and ensuring that tensile stresses are borne by said reinforcement layer to minimize stresses on said lightning strike protection strip during the automatically applying of said lightning strike protection strip disposed on said reinforcement layer and to avoid damage to said lightning strike protection strip;
• and
• wherein said reinforcement layer forms a portion of the structure.

A method for forming a structure having lightning strike protection, the method comprising:

• receiving at least one structural layer;
• receiving at least one lightning strike protection strip disposed on at least one reinforcement layer, the at least one lightning strike protection strip comprising a first material, and the at least one reinforcement layer comprising a second material different from the first material;
• automatically applying the at least one lightning strike protection strip disposed on the at least one reinforcement layer onto the at least one structural layer;
• separately applying a surfacing layer over the lightning strike protection strip disposed on the at least one reinforcement layer disposed on the at least one structural layer;
• and
• forming the at least one structural layer, the lightning strike protection strip, the reinforcement layer, and the surfacing layer into the structure.