Nathanael Jenkins

Nathanael Jenkins is a graduate student in aeronautics and astronautics developing physics-based computational models for lightning strikes to unconventional aircraft. Lightning protection methods are not yet prepared to meet next-generation designs including urban air mobility vehicles and ultra-efficient commercial jets. To address this gap, he is creating a toolkit combining MATLAB, SU2, GMSH, and Taichi-Lang to automate lightning zoning—the process of determining which aircraft surfaces are at risk of attachment. The models predict the swept stroke phase where lightning is convected over fuselage surfaces for nearly one second, creating damage streaks. He uses MATLAB’s PDE Toolbox for mesh generation and electrostatic simulations, exporting results to couple with fluid dynamics solvers. The research validates against NASA Storm Hazards Program flight tests and has been presented to aircraft manufacturers and international standards committees. As a second-year MathWorks Fellow, Nathanael will extend the toolkit to rotorcraft dynamics. This work paves the way for rigorous physics-based lightning protection, ensuring next-generation aircraft remain safe under extreme conditions.