A practical approach for determining the ground resistance of grounding grids

This paper starts from the premise that ground resistance is independent of earth-fault current and presents a new method for calculating the ground resistance of grounding grids using the finite-element method. The results obtained using the method proposed are compared with results measured experimentally and results published by other authors. Once ground resistance and earth-fault current are known, grid potential and touch-and-step voltages can be calculated. The main advantage of the method proposed here is that it permits us to analyze symmetrical and nonsymmetrical grids of any shape in uniform soils. It provides a fast-resolution industrial application with acceptable results for calculating the ground resistance of grounding grids of any shape. The results obtained with the proposed method are used as the basis for formulating an easy-to-use equation for calculating the ground resistance of grounding grids in uniform soils.