Analysis of Grounding Systems in Soils with Finite Volumes of Different Resistivities

A theoretical model for the analysis of grounding systems located in soils with finite volumes of arbitrary resistivities is presented. The boundary element method is used for the analysis. The procedures in the analysis are described in detail and the essential equations are presented. Analytical and numerical validations are also carried out in the process. The results obtained using the new approach are in agreement with well-known simple case results and converge asymptotically to the uniform soil case. There is a wide range of practical grounding system scenarios that can be accurately modeled by using this new soil type. Examples showing several finite volume soil models are also presented.