Calculation of Voltages Induced on Overhead Conductors by Nonvertical Lightning Channels

Effects of lightning channel tortuosity and tilt on lightning electric fields and voltages induced on overhead conductors are examined. Overall inclination of the bottom few hundred meters of the lightning channel can appreciably change both the ground-level vertical electric field at distances less than 1 km or so and induced voltage peak relative to the vertical-channel assumption. Smaller-scale tortuosity is responsible for the fine structure of field and induced voltage waveforms. This fine structure can be pronounced at some hundreds of meters and beyond, but is insignificant at shorter ranges