A300 FLT CREW ENCOUNTERS SEVERE TURB IN TSTMS E OF DFW.

Narrative

ACFT HAD 1 HR 20 MINS GND TIME ATC HOLD FOR TSTMS E OF DFW. ON CLBOUT; HAD TO NAV AROUND NUMEROUS TSTMS. AFTER LEVELOFF; WE APPEARED TO HAVE CLRED THE WX. WENT TO FL240 ON NAV DISPLAY (MAX RANGE) AND SHOWED CLR OF CELLS. WE WERE IN CIRRUS WHEN ACFT PITCHED UP 2000 FT AND PLUNGED DOWN THE SAME. IT WAS THE FO'S LEG AND HE GRABBED THE YOKE AS THE AUTOPLT DISCONNECTED. I SELECTED 30 NM ON NAV DISPLAY AND SAW WE WERE ON A LARGE CELL. FO HAD STARTED TO TRY L TURN EXIT BUT I SAW IT WAS SHORTER TO THE R AND REDIRECTED HIM. TURB HELPED ROLL ACFT TO 50 DEGS IN TURN. ACARS DID NOT REGISTER ANY SIDE LOADS WHICH IT IS PROGRAMMED TO RPT. ATC ASKED ME WHAT ALT WE WERE AT AND I ADVISED THEM OF SEVERE WX ENCOUNTER AND THAT WE WERE BUSY RECOVERING. AFTER CLRING THE CELL; ACFT PERFORMED OK. UPON ARR; MAINT ADVISED ME OF DAMAGE TO NOSE CONE; LIGHTNING STRIKES AND OTHER DAMAGE TO THE LEADING EDGE OF ENG #1 AND ENG #2 PYLON PANELS. ENTERED EVENT IN LOG. UNABLE TO EXPLAIN WHY RADAR FAILED TO SEE THE CELL ON 240 RANGE. ACFT CURRENTLY UNDERGOING NUMEROUS INSPECTIONS.