Earthing grid designs for heterogeneous soil structures in hilly regions using current simulation method
This study proposes a model for the analysis of earthing grid designs in multilayer soils with finite heterogeneities (in horizontal and vertical directions) based on the current simulation method (CSM). Case studies on some proposed IEEE grid design examples show significant accuracy levels when compared with the results obtained by the IEEE experimental and infinite series methods. A practical design problem which consists of a horizontal variation of resistivity in the top layer has been solved by the above CSM. Studies show that results provided by the CSM algorithm can be optimised further by increasing the number of current sources. The main objective of this study is to show that this computer-based simulation process can be a substitute to the experimental and other methods leading to less investment of man power and time for the design and analysis of earthing grids.