17.3.4.4 Shielding
Shielding of OOIs can be observed by considering the following parts separately: the
air terminals for lightning attachment (in the event of direct impact), control of radiated
lightning electromagnetic fields and their effects, control of conducted lightninggenerated
transients at the interface of protected zones, and bonding leads, bars and
the CBN.
The shielding effectiveness of air terminals in a direct lightning strike will depend
on the level of protection used, according to IEC 62305-3 [17].
The effectiveness of shielding against radiated lightning electromagnetic fields and
the effect and the damage inflicted by such fields on sensitive electronic devices,
sensors and cables inside enclosures will depend on the configuration of and the
material used for the barrier. As far as lightning-induced induction is concerned, the
typical frequency characterizing the magnetic field associated with the first stroke of
a lightning strike is 25 kHz and that of subsequent strokes 1 MHz, as indicated in
IEC 62305-4 [18].
Shields rely on two major electromagnetic phenomena: reflection from a conducting
surface and absortion in a conductive volume. For plane waves (i.e. far fields),
the combined effect of these losses, known as the attenuation (arising from reflection
and absortion), determines the effectiveness of the shield. If the components in the
enclosure are to be protected from external fields, then the material from which the
enclosure is constructed should be selected to maximize the absortion and reflection
losses. Reflection, however, is a surface-dependent effect and, is, therefore independent
of the barrier thickness. It is a function of the material’s conductivity and magnetic
permeability and of the frequency of the field. Absortion is the transformation
of wave energy to heat, in this case, in the shield, and is frequently defined by the
term ‘skin depth’; it is not directly related to near- or far-field conditions.