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Study Apparent Grounding Resistivity in

Vertical-layer Soil
Article in Electric Power Components and Systems June 2014
DOI: 10.1080/15325008.2014.896432

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Study Apparent Grounding Resistivity in Vertical-layer

Soil
Mohamed Nayel

Electrical Engineering Department, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt

Published online: 05 May 2014.

To cite this article: Mohamed Nayel (2014) Study Apparent Grounding Resistivity in Vertical-layer Soil, Electric Power
Components and Systems, 42:8, 845-851, DOI: 10.1080/15325008.2014.896432
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Electric Power Components and Systems, 42(8):845851, 2014

C Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
Copyright 
ISSN: 1532-5008 print / 1532-5016 online
DOI: 10.1080/15325008.2014.896432

Study Apparent Grounding Resistivity

in Vertical-layer Soil
Mohamed Nayel
Electrical Engineering Department, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt

Downloaded by [Mohamed Nayel] at 06:52 08 May 2014

CONTENTS
1. Introduction
2. Analytical Model
3. Results and Discussions
4. Field Measurements Verifications
5. Conclusion
References

AbstractSoil structure effects grounding systems designed to guarantee safe operation of electric power systems. This work investigated effects of the presence of two/three vertical adjacent mediums on measured apparent soil resistivity. The Wenner method was
used to measure the apparent soil resistivity in the vertical-layer
soil. Different vertical-layer soils were studied, such as two-verticallayer soil, three-parallel-vertical-layer soil, and three-perpendicularvertical-layer soil. Numerical models were used to model the four
electrodes at different vertical-layer soil by using the current source
simulation method. The measured apparent soil resistivities at different vertical-layer soils were compared with the apparent soil resistivity at a uniform-layer soil. Results show that the apparent soil
resistivity was affected by the presence of vertical-layer/s soil. Different parameters affected the measured apparent soil resistivity, such
as measuring angle slope with vertical layer, distance between measuring electrodes, and distance between measuring electrodes and
interface between the vertical-layer soil.

1.

Keywords: Wenner method, vertical-layer soil, ground resistivity, ground

resistance, multi-layer soil
Received 2 August 2013; accepted 9 February 2014
Address correspondence to Dr. Mohamed Nayel, Electrical Engineering
Department, Assiut University, Assiut 71518, Egypt. E-mail:
m a niel@yahoo.com
Color versions of one or more of the figures in the article can be found online
at www.tandfonline.com/uemp.

INTRODUCTION

Grounding systems are horizontal and/or vertical conductors

buried in the ground to pass faulted currents and lightning
charges to ground as infinite pass. To achieve the grounding system jobs, the soil parameters must be measured and
estimated correctly to propose the appropriate design [14].
Many techniques are used to measure soil resistivity, such as
electromagnetic wave propagation and current injection into
the ground using the Wenner method [58] and deep electrode
method [912] The Wenner method is an injected current technique; four electrodes are buried in the ground, and the current
is injected into an outer electrode and sink from another outer
electrode. The potential difference between the inner electrodes due to the injected current is measured. The potential
difference is divided by the injected current to get the apparent
soil resistance. The measurement of apparent soil resistivity
suffers from different sources of errors such as electrode arrangements or presence of external effects.
The real ground has a complex structure. It varies in horizontal and vertical directions, also, rivers and air spaces in the
ground result in vertical-layer soil. In order to obtain the soil
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Electric Power Components and Systems, Vol. 42 (2014), No. 8

parameters, the soil structure might be proposed after measurements. Usually, horizontal soil layers, such as two layers
or multiple layers, are widely proposed before for soil parameters estimation [212]. Vertical-layer soil might be considered
to model more practical situations. This would help in understanding the characteristics of apparent soil resistivity measurements [1216]. Otherwise, the error in expecting the soil
structure will certainly result in malfunction in estimating the
soil parameters and grounding system design. Also, verticallayer soil could increase grounding systems corrosion failure
as it increases stress in grounding grid joints [17]. Based on
vertical soil assumption, Electromagnetic Transients Program
(EMTP) programs might be modified to estimate maximum
ground grid currents [18].
This article investigates the measurement of soil resistivity
in a proposed vertical-layer soil. Analytical models of verticallayer soils are considered in the four electrode measurements.
Different equations are proposed to relate between four electrode measurements and vertical-layer soil parameters.

2.

ANALYTICAL MODEL

Three main cases (L: two-vertical-layer soil, V: three-parallelvertical-layer soil, and P: three-perpendicular-vertical-layer
soil) were studied for different vertical-layer soils and were
compared with a uniform-layer soil, which is Case U. The
analytical method was used to calculate the surface potential
of four electrodes. The analytical method is based on model
of the four electrodes driven in ground by four hemispheres
[1, 2], For example, the current flux lines emanate from the
outer portion of the expose surfaces of the electrodes. The
electrode surface is considered as an equipotential surface, so
the relationship between the voltage and current can be written
as:

V1

R11

V2 R21
=
V R
3 31
V4
R41

R12

R13

R22

R23

R32

R33

R42

R43

R14

R24 0
,

R34
0
I
R44

(1)

where I is the injected current, Vi is the voltage of the ith electrode, Rmn is the mutual resistance element, i.e., mutual resistance between electrode sphere m and electrode hemisphere n,
Rnn is the self-resistance of the nth electrode.
The elements of the resistance matrix were calculated [12]
based on the image map for different cases as shown in Figure 1. As the resistance elements were known, the hemispheres
voltages could be calculated from Eq. (1).

For uniform-layer soil, the different electrodes voltages

would be as follows:
I1
I1

2 s
2 3a
I1
I1

V2 =
2a
2 2a
I1
I1
V3 =

2 2a
2a
I1
I1
V4 =

2 3a
2 s

V1 =

(2)

where a is the distance between four electrodes (m), 1 is

the uniform-layer soil resistivity (.m), and s is the electrode
radius (m).
Then, the four electrodes measured apparent soil resistance
Ra was as follows:
Ra =

V2 V3
.
I

(3)

From Eqs. (2) and (3), the apparent soil resistance Ra for
uniform-layer soil related with soil resistivity 1 would be as
follows:
 I1
I1
4a
= 1 /2a,
(4)
Ra = 4a
I
and the formula for measured apparent soil resistivity a would
be as follows:
a = Ra 2a = 1 .

(5)

Similar to the uniform soil case, the formulas for measured

apparent soil resistivities for the studied cases were approved
and shown in Table 1.
2.1.

Studied Cases

There are three studied cases (L, V, and P) are shown in Table 1.
Case L studies the measured apparent soil resistivity at twovertical-layer soil. Cases V and P study three-vertical-layer
soil arranged in parallel and perpendicular layers, respectively.
The first electrode for all cases is located at distance d 1 = 5 m
from boundary between layer 1 and 2 and distance d 2 = 10 m
from boundary between layer 1 and 3. The studied cases are
concerned in study the effect of angle , reflection coefficient
factor k, and distance a on measured apparent soil resistivity.

3.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Figures 2, 3, and 4 show the polar percentage change in measured apparent soil resistivity with angle for different Cases
U, L, P, and V. For all cases, their change in measured soil
resistivity for angle < 90 is very small.

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Nayel: Study Apparent Grounding Resistivity in Vertical-layer Soil

FIGURE 1. Four electrode arrangements at different vertical layers soil: (a) Case 1uniform-layer soil, (b) Case 2two-vertical-layer
soil model, (c) Case 3three-parallel-vertical-layer soil model, and (d) Case 4three-perpendicular-vertical-layer soil model.

848

Electric Power Components and Systems, Vol. 42 (2014), No. 8

Apparent soil resistivity

Case
a = 1

a = a1 a1 +

UUniform layer soil [1, 2]

LTwo-vertical-layer soil [12]


a = a1

k1
4d12 +4d1 a cos +a 2

1
a

VThree-parallel-vertical-layer soil

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a = a1

1
a

k1

4d12 +8d1 a cos +4a 2

n=1 2

n=1

n=1

+2

n=1 2

n=1

k1n k2n1
2
2
2
(a sin ) +(2(n1)d+2d1 +a cos )
(a sin ) +(2(n1)d+2d1 +5a cos )2

n1
n
k1 k2
k1n k2n1
2 +((n1)d+d +a cos )2
(a sin )2 +((n1)d+d1 +2a cos )2
2
(a
sin
)
1
n=1

k1n1 k2n
k1n1 k2n
(a sin )2 +(2nd2d1 5a cos )2
(a sin )2 +(2nd2d1 a cos )2
n=1

k1n1 k2n
k1n1 k2n
2
2
(a sin )2 +(ndd1 a cos )2
n=1 2 (a sin ) +(ndd1 2a cos )

n
n
n
n
k1 k2
k1 k2
(a sin )2 +(2nd+a cos )2
(a sin )2 +(2nda cos )2

n=1

k1n k2n
(a sin )2 +(nd+a cos )2
k1

(a sin )2 +(2d1 +a cos )2

k1

k1

PThree-perpendicular-vertical-layer soil

k1
4(d1 +3a cos )(d1 +2a cos )+a 2

4(d1 +3a cos )(d1 +a cos )+4a 2

k1n k2n1

+2

(a sin )2 +(d1 +a cos )2

k1

k1
(a sin )2 +(d1 +2a cos )2

n=1

n=1

k1n k2n
(a sin )2 +(nda cos )2
k2

(a cos )2 +(d2 +a sin )2

k2

k1 k2
(2d1 +a cos )2 +(2d2 +a sin )2
k1 k2

(a cos )2 +(2d2 +5a sin )2

(a cos )2 +(2d2 +a sin )2

k2

(a sin )2 +(2d1 +5a cos )2

k2
(a cos )2 +(d2 +2a sin )2

(d1 +a cos )2 +(d2 +a sin )2

k1 k2

(2d1 +5a cos )2 +(2d2 +5a sin )2

k1 k2
(d1 +2a cos )2 +(d2 +2a sin )2

TABLE 1. Apparent soil resistivity formulas for different vertical layer soil
Note:
1 : first layer soil resistivity .m;
2 : second layer soil resistivity .m;
k1 = (2 1 )/(2 + 1 ): reflection factor between soil layers 1 and 2;
k2 = (3 1 )/(3 + 1 ): reflection factor between soil layers 1 and 3;
d 1 : normal distance between first electrode and boundary between layers 1 and 2;
d 2 : normal distance between first electrode and boundary between layers 1 and 3;
d = d 1 + d 2 : thickness of layer 1 for three parallel vertical layer soil;
: angle between line where four electrodes are located and perpendicular line to boundary between layers 1 and 2.

Case U shows no change with the change of angle as

the ground is uniform and there is no change of resistivity in
vertical or horizontal directions.

Cases L2-1 and L2-2 shows that as the angle increases

and directed to the interface between the two layers as changes
in the measured apparent soil resistivity increases as shown
in Figure 3. When the second layers soil resistivity is higher

Case

d1

d2

1 / 2

1 / 3

Comments

U1
L2-1
L2-2
V3-1
V3-2
V3-3
V3-4
P4-1
P4-2
P4-3
P4-4

5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5

10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10

1
0.5
2
0.5
2
0.5
2
0.5
2
0.5
2

0.5
2
2
0.5
0.5
2
2
0.5

Uniform soil
2Vertical-layer soil
2Vertical-layer soil
3Parallel-vertical-layer soil
3Parallel-vertical-layer soil
3Parallel-vertical-layer soil
3Parallel-vertical-layer soil
3Perpendicular-vertical-layer soil
3Perpendicular-vertical-layer soil
3Perpendicular-vertical-layer soil
3Perpendicular-vertical-layer soil

TABLE 2. Studied cases

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Nayel: Study Apparent Grounding Resistivity in Vertical-layer Soil

FIGURE 2. Polar presentation of percentage change in measured apparent soil resistivity with angle for two-verticallayer soil.

than first layers soil resistivity (Case L2-1, k 1 is positive), the

change will be in positive direction and vice versa for (Case
L2-2, k 1 is negative).

FIGURE 3. Polar presentation of percentage change in measured apparent soil resistivity with angle for three-parallelvertical-layer soil.

849

FIGURE 4. Polar presentation of percentage change in

measured apparent soil resistivity with angle for threeperpendicular-vertical-layer soil.

For Cases V3-1, V3-4, P4-1, and P4-4, as the angle increases
and directed to the interface between the two layers as the
apparent soil resistivity decreases because the second layers
resistivity is lower than first layers and vice versa. When the
reflection factors k 1 and K 2 < 0 between layers 1, 2, and 3, as
in Case V3-1, the measured apparent soil resistivity makes a
slight increasing negatively then decreases until it reaches zero,
finally it is increasing positively with increasing of angle
from 0 to 180 and vice versa for Case V3-2 when the reflection
factors k 1 and K 2 > 0.
Cases P4-1, P4-2, P4-3, and P4-4 shows that as the angle
increases and directed to the interface between the two layers
as changes in the measured apparent soil resistivity increases
as shown in Figure 3. For these cases, as layers 2 and 3 are
perpendicular to each other, the change in soil resistivity are
not similar for positive and negative angle , as shown in
Figure 4.
Figure 5 shows the percentage change in measured apparent
soil resistivity with distance a. The increases in distance a and
in the measured apparent soil resistivity are due to the increase
of surrounding soil layers 2 and 3.
Figure 6 shows the percentage change in measured apparent
soil resistivity with reflection coefficient k 1 = k 2 > 0. As
the reflection coefficient k 1 = k 2 increases as the changes
in measured apparent soil resistivity for Cases L and V. For
Case P, as the reflection coefficient increases and the changes

Downloaded by [Mohamed Nayel] at 06:52 08 May 2014

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Electric Power Components and Systems, Vol. 42 (2014), No. 8

FIGURE 5. Percentage change in measured apparent soil resistivity with distance a.

slightly increase positively, it then decreases until it reaches

zero, finally it increases into the negative side and vice versa
for K 1 = K 2 < 0.
4.

FIELD MEASUREMENTS VERIFICATIONS

Measurements had been done to investigate the calculation

analysis. The measurements were done for different distances
(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 m). The measurements had been
made at two directions 0 and 90 . An earth/ground tester
(Fluke 1623) is used in measurements with 2% intrinsic
error and 5% operating error.
Figure 7 shows the measured soil resistance and obtained
apparent soil resistivity at different cases (1-1 and 1-2). The

FIGURE 6. Percentage change in measured apparent soil resistivity with reflection coefficient K.

FIGURE 7. Field measured apparent soil resistance/resistivity

results versus distance a by using four-electrode method: (a)
Case 1-1 and (b) Case 1-2.

measured soil resistance decreased as distance a between electrodes increases. There are very small differences between
the measured soil resistance perpendicular directions for the
same case. As the measurements are done closer to the water channel (Case 1-1) the differences in obtained apparent
soil resistivities for perpendicular measurements increases.
The apparent soil resistivities far from water channels have
lower differences between = 0 and = 90 directions
measurements as in Case 1 and 2, and this is in agreement with the calculated results in uniform soil. As shown
in Figure 7(a), the difference between the measurements at 0
and 90 increase with the increase of distance a. This is in
agreement with the calculated results shown in Figure 5. As
shown in Figure 7(a), the measurements at = 90 are lower
than that at = 0 and this is in agreement with calculated

Nayel: Study Apparent Grounding Resistivity in Vertical-layer Soil

analysis at Figure 2 for k > 0. These measurements agree with

the calculated analysis.
5.

CONCLUSION

The following can be concluded from the calculated results.

Downloaded by [Mohamed Nayel] at 06:52 08 May 2014

The proposed models satisfied to solve and model the

problem of vertical-layer soil. The estimated apparent
soil resistivity equations consider the vertical-layer soils
successfully. The results show that the calculated apparent soil resistance is affected by the vertical-layer presence, measuring angle, spaced distance from the vertical
layer, and distance between electrodes.
As the soil parameters estimation depends on different
measurements, so the estimated soil parameters will diffuse from the actual soil resistivity. This stress on the
designer to make sure from the actual presentation of
soil.
For designer purpose, it is better to keep the grounding system far away from hill edges and close to river
sides. And if it is necessary, it better to consider the
non-uniform grounding electrodes distribution.
The field measurement approved the calculated analysis
results. The field measurements need more investigation
works to distinguish between horizontal and verticallayer soil.

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BIOGRAPHY
Mohamed Nayel received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. from Assiut
University, Assiut, Egypt, in 1996 and 1999, respectively. He
obtained his Dr. Eng. from Doshisha University, Japan. He
was employed by Assiut University from 1996 to 1999 as a
demonstrator, from 1999 to 2004 as an assistant lecturer, from
2004 to 2009 as a lecturer, and since 2009 as an associate
professor. He was a post-doctor for two years at China Southern Power Grid Company and Tsinghua University, China. He
joined Xian Jiaotong Liverpool University, China from 2010
to 2014. His current research includes high voltage, electromagnetic field measurements and calculations, electromagnetic transient, lightning protection, and grounding systems.