Evaluation of grounding grid corrosion extent based on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) combined with machine learning

As one of the most widely used forms of energy, the safety and stability of power systems are crucial to modern society. Grounding grids dissipate current and reduce touch and pace voltage during lightning strikes or fault currents, ensuring the safety of personnel and equipment. However, prolonged submersion in soil causes inevitable corrosion, compromising grounding efficacy by increasing resistance and reducing current dissipation. This deterioration can result in unsafe local potential differences. This study uses Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) to measure corrosion degrees in grounding grids. Spectral data from samples with varying corrosion extent were collected, with outliers removed using the Local Outlier Factor (LOF) algorithm. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) reduced data dimensionality, revealing clustering in spectral data corresponding to corrosion extent. Three machine learning models were compared: Adaptive Boosting - Backpropagation Neural Network (Adaboost-BP), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Random Forest (RF). The RF model showed the highest accuracy in predicting corrosion degree (R²=0.9845, MSE=0.0296), outperforming Adaboost-BP and SVM, especially for intermediate corrosion extent. These findings validate the effectiveness and reliability of combining LIBS with machine learning for predicting grounding grid corrosion, providing a theoretical foundation for the safe operation of power systems.