10. On Some Properties of the Multi-peaked Analytically Extended Function for Approximation of Lightning Discharge Currents

According to experimental results for lightning discharge currents, they are classified in the IEC 62305 Standard into waveshapes representing the first positive, first and subsequent negative strokes, and long-strokes. These waveshapes, especially shot-term pulses, are approximated with a few mathematical functions in literature, in order to be used in lightning discharge models for calculations of electromagnetic field and lightning induced effects. An analytically extended function (AEF) is presented in this paper and used for lightning currents modeling. The basic properties of this function with a finite number of peaks are examined. A general framework for estimating the parameters of the AEF using the Marquardt least-squares method (MLSM) for a waveform with an arbitrary (finite) number of peaks as well as for the given charge transfer and specific energy is described. This framework is used to find parameters for some common single-peak waveforms and some advantages and disadvantages of the approach are also discussed.