Distribution of lightning current in the grounding grid for different multilayer soil models

Abstract

The paper presents computer results of current distribution for two different lightning current waveforms injected in the central part of a typical substation grounding grid buried in an uniform soil and two different two-layered soils with positive and negative reflection factors, respectively. Obtained results show that the modules of the input impedance of the grounding systems differ significantly and are almost constant in the low-frequency range being practically the same as dc grounding resistances. The computed input impedances increase rapidly above 10 kHz and reach at 1 MHz similar values for both two-layered soils. The lightning current flowing in the horizontal conductors of the analysed grounding grid with vertical rods is slightly greater in the outer edges than current for the same grounding system and soil but without the vertical rods for both injected current waveforms with relatively slow and very fast rising wavefronts.