Rally
Forum Member
These photos were taken here in Australia of a lightning strike hitting one of those huge mining dump trucks. No one was inside or near the truck when the lightning struck the vehicle. Note in the top photo how far away the tyres landed
Three tyres were blown off the truck. Two tyres exploded (position 1 and 3 tyres) on the driver’s side of the truck, sending debris several hundred metres from the vehicle and causing extensive damage to the truck and other equipment.One complete wheel base (weighing 1.6 tonnes) was thrown about 100 metres from the truck. A solid wheel flange (weighing 250kg) was thrown to the top of the stockpile about 275 metres from the truck. The air blast and shock wave caused damage to the operator’s cabin, other equipment and buildings up to 230 metres from the truck. The tyres were ejected and finished between 50 to 60 metres from the truck.
Damage to the truck
1. The truck operator’s rear cabin window was blown into the cabin and all other windows were blown outwards from the cabin. The driver’s door was blown open.
2. The final drive was extensively damaged. The rear outer position 3 wheel base exploded off the final drive breaking 57 one-inch grade 10.9 bolts in tension with a calculated force of approximately 270 kNewtons. The final drive outer planetary carrier and axle were blown off the truck.
3. Position 1 tyre (new tyre) had one complete side wall blown out.
4. Position 3 tyre had the side wall blown out for three-quarters of the circumference.
5. Position 4 tyre was inspected with no visual damage. This tyre was scrapped due to oil contamination inside the tyre.
6. The engine sump was cracked and damaged. The oil cooler was damaged.
7. The front position 1 wheel strut mounting was distorted, and the front wheel hub was bent.
8. Fuel tank mountings were significantly damaged.
9. The three wheel bases were damaged and scrapped
Three tyres were blown off the truck. Two tyres exploded (position 1 and 3 tyres) on the driver’s side of the truck, sending debris several hundred metres from the vehicle and causing extensive damage to the truck and other equipment.One complete wheel base (weighing 1.6 tonnes) was thrown about 100 metres from the truck. A solid wheel flange (weighing 250kg) was thrown to the top of the stockpile about 275 metres from the truck. The air blast and shock wave caused damage to the operator’s cabin, other equipment and buildings up to 230 metres from the truck. The tyres were ejected and finished between 50 to 60 metres from the truck.
Damage to the truck
1. The truck operator’s rear cabin window was blown into the cabin and all other windows were blown outwards from the cabin. The driver’s door was blown open.
2. The final drive was extensively damaged. The rear outer position 3 wheel base exploded off the final drive breaking 57 one-inch grade 10.9 bolts in tension with a calculated force of approximately 270 kNewtons. The final drive outer planetary carrier and axle were blown off the truck.
3. Position 1 tyre (new tyre) had one complete side wall blown out.
4. Position 3 tyre had the side wall blown out for three-quarters of the circumference.
5. Position 4 tyre was inspected with no visual damage. This tyre was scrapped due to oil contamination inside the tyre.
6. The engine sump was cracked and damaged. The oil cooler was damaged.
7. The front position 1 wheel strut mounting was distorted, and the front wheel hub was bent.
8. Fuel tank mountings were significantly damaged.
9. The three wheel bases were damaged and scrapped
