Influence of different multilayer soil models on grounding system resistance

The aim of the paper is to compare different multilayer soil models in computer estimation of grounding system resistance as an alternative conception to typical uniform and two-layer soil models. Experimental tests of a simple grounding system are described. Preliminary measurements were conducted at the new open-air laboratory belonging to the Rzeszow University of Technology (RUT), Poland. Finally, measurements of soil resistivity by 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 are compared with the case of the corresponding uniform soil.