Lightning　strike　damage　has　become　a　primary　issue　limiting　the　extensive　application　of　carbon　fibre-reinforced　polymer　(CFRP)　composites　in　the　aerospace　field.　A　detailed　understanding　of　the　physical　interactions　involved　in　the　lightning　strike　process　is　still　lacking,　especially　regarding　the　lightning-induced　mechanical　effects　that　potentially　contribute　to　fracture　and　ply　delamination　in　CFRP　structures.　This　paper　presents　research　on　shock　wave　pressure　induced　by　impulse　currents　on　CFRP　laminates.　A　novel　method　that　exploits　a　polyvinylidene　fluoride　(PVDF)　piezoelectric　sensor　was　developed　to　directly　measure　the　pressure　induced　by　arc　channel　expansion.　The　influences　of　discharge　polarity,　strike　distance　and　surface　condition　on　the　shock　wave　pressure　were　investigated.　The　results　showed　that　the　shock　wave　pressure　produced　by　negative　discharge　was　greater　than　that　produced　by　positive　discharge,　the　difference　between　which　was　reasonably　explained　based　on　the　polarity　effect　concept.　Increases　in　current　amplitude　and　strike　distance　both　contributed　to　larger　measured　pressures.　A　woven　copper　mesh　protection　could　diminish　the　shock　wave　pressure　to　some　extent,　while　an　additional　insulating　epoxy　resin　layer　enhanced　it.　Analysis　results　demonstrated　that　the　pressure　imposed　on　the　laminated　samples　was　related　to　the　energy　injected　into　the　arc　channel.　In　addition,　the　energy　consumed　by　vaporized　materials　at　the　interface　between　the　arc　root　and　sample　was　defined　as　another　source　of　shock　wave　pressure.　The　presence　of　an　insulating　layer　confined　the　diffusion　of　the　plasma　channel　at　the　arc　root,　as　confirmed　by　high-speed　imaging　observations.　©　2021