D-JOINTS will explore new innovative composite-metal joints with enhanced lightning strike protection. The design of these joints will be achieved through a dedicated sizing tool. Key design parameters will be identified and coded in the tool. A material properties database will provide the needed material information for the design of each joint. Finally, the new joints will be integrated in a composite nose part. The manufactured demonstrators will be tested for lightning strike protection.

The project objectives are:

• Model the mechanical and electrical performance of reference joints
• Improve the reference joints electromagnetic performance
• Develop a sizing tool for dissimilar joints
• Manufacture and test the CNP with the new dissimilar joints integrated in the structure