Publications related to Lichtenberg figure

High-frequency response of a hemispherical grounding electrode

Marcos Rubinstein, Antonio Sunjerga, Farhad Rachidi-Haeri

The lightning discharge current is characterized by a high-frequency spectrum extending from DC to about 10 MHz. The calculation of the grounding impedance is one of the most important aspects of designing lightning protection systems. The search for analy ...

Elsevier2024

Lightning Localization Using Three-Dimensional Time Reversal MUltiple SIgnal Classification (TR-MUSIC) Algorithm

Farhad Rachidi-Haeri, Marcos Rubinstein, Hamidreza Karami

In this paper a three-dimensional (3D) Time Reversal MUltiple SIgnal Classification (TR-MUSIC) algorithm is proposed to localize lightning discharges. The performance of the proposed algorithm was evaluated considering different scenarios and taking into a ...

2023

Measuring electro-adhesion pressure before and after contact

Herbert Shea, Sylvain Thomas Schaller

Electro-adhesion (EA) is a low-power, tunable, fast and reversible electrically-controlled adhesion method, effective on both conducting and insulating objects. Typically, only the electro-adhesive detachment force, i.e., the force required to separate an ...

Nature Portfolio2023

Could Macroscopic Dark Matter (Macros) Give Rise to Mini-Lightning Flashes out of a Blue Sky without Clouds?

Farhad Rachidi-Haeri, Marcos Rubinstein

A recent study pointed out that macroscopic dark matter (macros) traversing through the Earth’s atmosphere can give rise to hot and ionized channels similar to those associated with lightning leaders. The authors of the study investigated the possibility t ...

2021

Estimation of the Lightning Performance of Overhead Lines Accounting for Different Types of Strokes and Multiple Strike Points

Farhad Rachidi-Haeri

Dealing with lightning performance computation, researchers usually consider only negative downward first return strokes and the relevant channel-base peak current distribution. The aim of this article is to account for the lightning flash mechanism, which ...

2021

Augmenting the performance of impoverished sensor networks using machine learning and time reversal: Application to lightning nowcasting and location

Amirhossein Mostajabi

Lightning is formed in the atmosphere through the combination of intricate dynamic and microphysical processes. Mainly due to this complexity, attempts to solve the important problem of lightning prediction have generally failed to yield accurate results. ...

EPFL2021

Impact of Frequency-Dependent Soil Models on Grounding System Performance for Direct and Indirect Lightning Strikes

Farhad Rachidi-Haeri

The goal of this article is to investigate the effect of frequency-dependent soil models on the performance of grounding electrodes subjected to lightning strikes. Several soil models are examined while accounting for the variation of soil resistivity and ...

2021

Three-Dimensional FDTD-Based Simulation of Induced Surges in Secondary Circuits Owing to Primary-Circuit Surges in Substations

Farhad Rachidi-Haeri, Marcos Rubinstein, Akiyoshi Tatematsu

Currently, plenty of sensitive electronic devices are installed in secondary circuits in substations and power plants. Electronic devices may malfunction and become damaged owing to electromagnetic disturbances caused mainly by lightning surges. To protect ...

2021

Field-to-transmission line coupling models

Farhad Rachidi-Haeri, Marcos Rubinstein, Carlo Alberto Nucci

This chapter presents the coupling of lightning electromagnetic fields to overhead and underground lines based on the transmission line approximation. The chapter starts with an introductory section in which the advantages and the drawbacks of three approa ...

IET2020

An Efficient FDTD Method to Calculate Lightning Electromagnetic Fields Over Irregular Terrain Adopting the Moving Computational Domain Technique

Marcos Rubinstein, Mohammad Azadifar, Farhad Rachidi-Haeri, Wenhao Hou, Qilin Zhang

We present an improved finite-difference time domain (FDTD) method based on the moving computational domain technique for the calculation of lightning-generated fields over large-scale irregular terrain. In the improved method, a spatial window moving alon ...

2020

Meteorological conditions during self-initiated upward lightning at the Säntis tower (Switzerland)

Marcos Rubinstein, Antonio Sunjerga, Farhad Rachidi-Haeri, Mohammad Azadifar, Amirhossein Mostajabi, Jacopo Grazioli, Nikola Besic

Meteorological conditions favoring the initiation of upward lightning from tall structures have been only poorly investigated so far. In addition to the scientific interest in this subject, it has practical applications to risk assessment for lightning occ ...

2019

Lightning Potential Index performances in multimicrophysical cloud-resolving simulations of a back-building mesoscale convective system: The Genoa 2014 event

Farhad Rachidi-Haeri, Martina Lagasio

Severe weather events are responsible for hundreds of fatalities and millions of euros of damage every year on the Mediterranean basin. Lightning activity is a characteristic phenomenon of severe weather and often accompanies torrential rainfall, which, un ...

Amer Geophysical Union2017

Advanced methods for the evaluation of lightning incidence over large areas, wind turbine parks and tall towers

Aleksandr Smorgonskii

Lightning presents a significant danger to electrical and electronic equipment, buildings and monuments, people and animals. Although our knowledge about lightning has significantly improved over last century, the development of new composite materials and ...

EPFL2016

Wire EDM Monitoring for Zero-Defect Manufacturing based on Advanced Sensor Signal Processing

Paul Xirouchakis, Roberto Pérez

In the framework of zero-defect manufacturing, an advanced sensor monitoring procedure aimed at detecting the process conditions leading to surface defects in Wire Electrical Discharge Machining (WEDM) is proposed. WEDM experimental tests were carried out ...

Elsevier Science Bv2015

A model for the evaluation of the electric field associated with the lightning-triggering rocket wire and its corona

Farhad Rachidi-Haeri, Marcos Rubinstein, Aleksandr Smorgonskii

In this paper, we analyze the electric field at ground level during the first stage of triggered lightning experiments, i.e., during the rocket ascent and prior to the lightning initiation. At distances of some tens of meters from the triggering wire, the ...

Amer Geophysical Union2015

Electrostatic Spray Ionization Method

Liang Qiao, Yu Lu, Elena Tobolkina, Romain Sartor

In an electrostatic spray ionization method for spraying a liquid layer from an insulating plate 2, the plate is arranged between two electrodes 1, 4. A constant high voltage power supply 3 is provided and an electric circuit is used to charge and discharg ...

2015

On the possible variation of the lightning striking distance as assumed in the IEC lightning protection standard as a function of structure height

Farhad Rachidi-Haeri, Carlo Alberto Nucci

The effect of structure height on the lightning striking distance is estimated using a lightning strike model that takes into account the effect of connecting leaders. According to the results, the lightning striking distance may differ significantly from ...

Elsevier2014

Preliminary Comparison of Data from the Säntis Tower and the EUCLID Lightning Location System

Mario Paolone, Farhad Rachidi-Haeri, Marcos Rubinstein, Carlos Alberto Romero Romero, Wolfgang Schulz, Carlo Alberto Nucci, Abraham Rubinstein

In this paper, direct lightning current measurements obtained on the Sntis Tower from June 1st, 2010 to May 31st, 2011 are used to evaluate the ability of the EUCLID lightning detection network to detect this type of lightning triggered by a tall tower in ...

2011

Elastomer Composites for Actuator Applications

Martin Molberg

Dielectric elastomers are highly promising as functional materials for the rapidly developing field of flexible actuator and generator technology. They offer a unique combination of low densities and large reversible deformations of up to more than 100% in ...

EPFL2010

Lightning Currents Flowing in the Soil and Entering a Test Power Distribution Line Via Its Grounding

Mario Paolone, Farhad Rachidi-Haeri, Emanuel Petrache

Current from nearby rocket-triggered lightning that flowed through the soil and into an unenergized test power distribution line was studied based on experimental data acquired in 2003 at the International Center for Lightning Research and Testing in Flori ...

2009