Analysis of a simple grounding system installed in a multilayer soil

The aim of the paper is to analyze the influence of selected geoelectrical models on
the correctness of a simple grounding system performance estimation. A comparison
of different multilayer soil models used to compute grounding system resistance
was made as an alternative to typical uniform and two-layer soil conceptions.
Experimental tests of a simple grounding system are described. Preliminary
measurements were conducted at the new open-air laboratory belonging to
Rzeszow University of Technology (RUT), Poland. Finally, measurements of soil
resistivity with the use of different methods and at the same time, the ground resistance
measurements of simple grounding system were performed. Using the experimental
data, a different multilayer soil models were proposed and the grounding
resistances of the same grounding system were computed. In case of impact
excitations characteristic for lightning currents, the potential distributions around
the analyzed grounding system are shown for the selected multilayer soil, and then,
the obtained simulation results were compared with the case of the corresponding
uniform soil.

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