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23 Citations 27 References 13 Figures

Measurement of Magnetic Fields Inside Single- and Double-Layer

Reinforced Concrete Buildings During Simulated Lightning Currents
Article · June 2004 with 70 Reads
Cite this publication
DOI: 10.1109/TEMC.2004.826894 · Source: IEEE Xplore

Ibrahim Metwally
31.03 · Sultan Qaboos University

Wolfgang Zischank
12.28 · Universität der Bundeswehr München

F. Heidler
22.04 · Universität der Bundeswehr München

Abstract
This paper presents measurements of the voltages, the magnetic elds and the magnetic- eld derivatives inside a structure simulating reinforced concrete
buildings. The test structure comprises a cubic cage of 2-m side length with single- or double-layer reinforced grids. The injected lightning currents simulate
the positive, the negative rst and the negative subsequent return strokes with amplitudes of ∼ 77, 16, and 4.8 kA, respectively. Three distinct points of the
lightning stroke impact to the structure roof are considered, namely, the center, the mid-edge and the corner. In the case of a single-layer cage, the results
reveal that slow-rising magnetic- eld components are generated inside the structure for various lightning currents. This effect becomes dominant for the case
of the double-layer cage. For all the simulated currents, striking to the structure corner induces the lowest voltage across it, but gives the highest values for
both the resultant magnetic elds and the magnetic- eld derivatives. For all striking points, the magnetic elds have the highest values for positive strokes,
while the negative subsequent strokes give the highest amplitude of the resultant magnetic- eld derivatives and roof-to- oor voltages. Compared to the case
of a single-layer cage for the negative subsequent strokes, the use of a double-layer cage shows a considerable mitigation of the voltage across the structure,
and a moderate mitigation of both the resultant magnetic elds and the magnetic- eld derivatives.

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208 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY, VOL. 46, NO. 2, MAY 2004

Measurement of Magnetic Fields Inside Single- and

Double-Layer Reinforced Concrete Buildings
During Simulated Lightning Currents
Ibrahim A. Metwally, Member, IEEE, Wolfgang J. Zischank, and Fridolin H. Heidler

Abstract—This paper presents measurements of the voltages, the basic philosophy to control lightning generated electromag-
the magnetic fields and the magnetic-field derivatives inside netic interferences, the principle of “lightning protection zones
a structure simulating reinforced concrete buildings. The test (LPZ)” has been developed by the committee IEC TC 81 and
structure comprises a cubic cage of 2-m side length with single-
or double-layer reinforced grids. The injected lightning currents published in the International Standard Series IEC 61 312 [1],
simulate the positive, the negative first and the negative subse- [2]. This principle requires forming nested zones of successively
quent return strokes with amplitudes of 77, 16, and 4.8 kA, reduced electromagnetic environment. This objective is mainly
respectively. Three distinct points of the lightning stroke impact to achieved by two measures:
the structure roof are considered, namely, the center, the mid-edge
and the corner. In the case of a single-layer cage, the results 1) shielding to reduce the electromagnetic fields;
reveal that slow-rising magnetic-field components are generated 2) quipotential bonding of all lines at the LPZ boundaries
inside the structure for various lightning currents. This effect to limit the line induced surges, e.g., by means of surge
becomes dominant for the case of the double-layer cage. For all protective devices.
the simulated currents, striking to the structure corner induces During direct lightning strikes, impulse currents with am-
the lowest voltage across it, but gives the highest values for both
the resultant magnetic fields and the magnetic-field derivatives. plitudes up to 200 kA and with very short rise times down to
For all striking points, the magnetic fields have the highest values 250 ns can be generated [1]. Such currents flowing through
for positive strokes, while the negative subsequent strokes give the an LPS to the ground may cause [3]–[8]: (a) damages in the
highest amplitude of the resultant magnetic-field derivatives and LPS due to thermal and electromagnetic forces; (b) secondary
roof-to-floor voltages. Compared to the case of a single-layer cage sparks which might lead to fire or explosion hazard; (c) unequal
for the negative subsequent strokes, the use of a double-layer cage
shows a considerable mitigation of the voltage across the structure, high-voltage distribution which may cause dangerous events
and a moderate mitigation of both the resultant magnetic fields for people inside the struck structure; and (d) malfunctioning
and the magnetic-field derivatives. of the electronic communication, control and measuring sys-
Index Terms—Electromagnetic shielding, induced voltage, light- tems inside the struck structure by high-magnitude disturbances.
ning currents, magnetic field, reinforced buildings. Moreover, the main reason of inadvertent outages of overhead
power lines is not only due to direct lightning strikes to the lines
but also due to the direct strikes to control buildings of indoor
I. INTRODUCTION
substations [9], [10].
T IS a good practice and a cost-effective method to use the Direct and nearby lightning strikes to an LPS produce elec-
I existing reinforced concrete as part of the lightning-protec- tromagnetic fields (EMF) inside it. The lightning phenomenon
tion system (LPS). Lightning represents a severe threat to sen- involves frequencies up to several MHz [4], [5]. The evaluation
sitive electrical or electronic equipment located inside a struck of the EMF inside a struck structure is essential for the electro-
structure. Currently, as a result of the ever-increase in the use of magnetic compatibility of the electrical and electronic systems
highly sophisticated microelectronic circuits having very low- [7], [11]. In spite of the shielding efficiency of the reinforced
signal levels, the equipment become more susceptible to electro- concrete, the interference voltages may be of magnitudes that
magnetic interferences. The control of electromagnetic interfer- are dangerous for control units and instruments [8]. In addition,
ences has become the dominant task of lightning protection. As if the magnetic field exceeds certain levels, electronically stored
data can be erased [12].
Manuscript received July 22, 2002; revised October 30, 2003. This work was Only very few experimental data are available to get the
supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Bonn, Germany. current and the voltage distributions in a reinforced concrete
I. A. Metwally is with Sultan Qaboos University, College of Engineering, building produced by direct lightning strikes [13]. Most of
Muscat-123, Oman, and Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
(e-mail: metwally@squ.edu.om; metwally@mans.edu.eg; ibrahim.metwally@ the previous works were theoretically carried out to compute
unibw-muenchen.de). the electric field and/or the magnetic field inside structures by
W. J. Zischank is with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Univer- applying different computational algorithms for steel structures
sity of the Federal Armed Forces, Universität der Bundeswehr München,
Article: Magnetic[5], Fields and[14]–[17]
[11], Loop Voltages
andInside Reduced-
for carbon and composite
fiber Full- enclosures
Munich, D-85577 Neubiberg, Germany (e-mail: wolfgang.zischank@unibw-
muenchen.de). Scale Structures [18].Produced by Direct Light...
F. H. Heidler is with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of the In· IEC 61 312-2 on [2], the equations of the magnetic-field as-
Full-text · Jun 2006 IEEE Transactions Elect...
Federal Armed Forces, Universität der Bundeswehr München, D-85577 Neu-
biberg, Germany (e-mail: fridolin.heidler@unibw-muenchen.de). sessment inside structures due to a direct lightning strike are
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/TEMC.2004.826894 given. These equations are based on computer simulations for

0018-9375/04$20.00 © 2004 IEEE

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METWALLY et al.: MEASUREMENT OF MAGNETIC FIELDS
Fig. 1. (a) Arrangement of the cage on the test rig and (b) test setup in the laboratory.
shields consisting of a single-layer steel grid of a given mesh
width. Real constructions, however, contain at least two layers
of reinforced steel grids. In this paper, an experimental inves-
tigation is introduced to determine the additional shielding ef-
fectiveness of a second reinforced grid layer compared to a
single-layer one. The individual components of the magnetic
fields and their derivatives inside the struck structure as well
as the voltage across it are measured due to different impulse
currents striking at different impact points of the test structure
roof. These currents simulate those of all types of the lightning
return strokes.
II. EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
A. Test Rig Arrangement
It is well known that the concrete itself does not significantly
contribute to the electromagnetic shielding of buildings. There-
fore, the test structure is built as single- and double-layer steel
cages only. Fig. 1(a) illustrates a schematic representation of the
test rig arrangement, where the whole test structure is mounted
on a 1.5-m high wooden support rig. The test structure com-
prises a cubic steel cage of 2-m side length. Five faces of the
cage consist of a rebar grid made of steel rods having a diam-
eter of 6 mm and forming square meshes of 15 cm 15 cm.
Each mesh is welded at its corners. The sixth face is made of a
1-mm-thick steel plate to simulate a highly conductive ground.
This face is equipped with a 1 m 0.75 m access door. A steel
pipe, having a square cross-sectional area of 2 cm 2 cm, is
used as a supporting frame at the cage edges. Compared to the
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209
reality, the whole test structure is rotated 90 to facilitate ac-
cessibility through the sixth face and to get a symmetric ar-
rangement with respect to the impulse current generator, see
Fig. 1. In the case of the double-layer cage, an inner five-face
cage (1.85 m 1.7 m 1.7 m) is made of the same steel rods
and with the same mesh size. The interspacing between the two
cages is kept at 0.15 m. The inner cage is welded at the four
roof corners and at the open face edges with the structure floor
(steel plate). Fig. 1(a) shows that the test current is injected into
the front face (simulating the structure roof) via a 2-m-long alu-
minum tube having 35-mm diameter.
The current return path from the steel plate is formed by
an array of eight copper return conductors (5-mm diameter
each) that are quasi-coaxially arranged around the steel cage
at 1 m from the four side faces and at 0.7 m from the
current injection terminal. The quasi-coaxial arrangement of
the return conductors makes their generated magnetic fields
to be cancelled at the cage center. As the steel plate acts
as an equipotential surface, the currents through the return
conductors are almost symmetric and independent of the
current injection point. The effect of different current injection
locations on the return-conductor currents is within 2%.
Fig. 1(b) illustrates a photo of the test setup in the laboratory.
In real reinforced concrete structures, the bars are not perfectly
connected together. Hence, the so-called “junction impedance”
can play a role in the current distribution and associated
phenomena. However, the main requirement for optimizing
the lightning protection of any structure containing highly
sophisticated microelectronic circuits, e.g., nuclear power