Compared　with　traditional　metal　alloy　materials,　carbon　fibre-reinforced　polymer　(CFRP)　composites　have　many　excellent　advantages　except　for　being　vulnerable　to　lightning　strike　damage.　This　paper　presents　a　study　on　the　damage　behaviour　of　CFRP　laminates　exposed　to　impulse　lightning　current.　Measurement　of　near-field　lightning　mechanical　impact　on　the　CFRP　laminates　was　achieved　by　a　self-established　device　that　effectively　overcome　the　strong　electromagnetic　inference.　The　damage　results　assessed　by　non-destructive　techniques　showed　that　the　damage　degree　was　intensified　by　increasing　current　amplitude　for　CFRP　samples,　including　apparent　and　bulk　damage.　For　samples　with　different　surface　conditions,　the　presence　of　insulating　epoxy　resin　layer　dramatically　exacerbated　the　lightning　strike　damage,　while　expanded　copper　foil　protection　mitigated　the　damage　considerably.　It　was　found　from　the　mechanical　impact　measurement　that　there　is　a　good　proportional　relationship　between　the　maximum　impact　forces　and　the　action　integral　calculated　with　their　corresponding　time　for　CFRP　samples.　CFRP　coated　with　insulating　layer　subjected　to　stronger　mechanical　impact,　which　is　almost　twice　as　large　as　pristine　CFRP　did　under　the　same　current　level.　The　mechanical　force　impacted　on　CFRP　protected　with　expanded　copper　foil　was　comparable　to　that　of　unprotected　CFRP.　Through　analysis,　it　was　concluded　that　the　significance　of　mechanical　effects　on　the　lightning　damage　behaviour　of　CFRP　composite　depends　on　the　thermal　effects　and　vice　versa.　©　2022　Elsevier　Ltd