Simulation Study on Electromagnetic Response and Cable Coupling Characteristics of eVTOL under Lightning Environment

This study employs CST simulations to analyze the electromagnetic response and cable coupling characteristics of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft under lightning conditions. Based on the SAE ARP5414B standard, lightning zoning was carried out, and three typical strike scenarios—the nose, wing, and vertical tail—were established. Referring to representative lightning current waveforms in SAE ARP5412B, Component A was selected as the primary excitation source. On this basis, the L9(3³) orthogonal design method was applied to evaluate the influence of cable structure, length, and routing method on induced current. The results show that lightning strikes at the nose have the strongest coupling effect on the airframe, with both electric and magnetic fields exhibiting significant spatial distribution. Shielded cables effectively reduce induced current in the conductor core by diverting most of the coupled current through the shielding layer, while unshielded single-core cables demonstrate the weakest resistance to interference. Induced current increases with cable length, and Z-shaped wall-mounted routing produces stronger coupling than straight or suspended routing. This research provides a systematic approach for evaluating indirect lightning effects in eVTOL and offers engineering guidance for electromagnetic protection and cable design.