volume | PIER Journals

Abstract

This study investigates the electrical characteristics of grounding electrodes in seasonal frozen soil through experimental and simulation approaches. Experimental measurements reveal the variation patterns of soil resistivity and dielectric constant within the frequency range of 100 Hz-10 MHz at different temperatures. The results indicate that decreasing temperature leads to increased resistivity and decreased dielectric constant, with both parameters tending to stabilize at high frequencies. Computations based on the method of moments demonstrate that accounting for the frequency dependence of frozen soil reduces the impedance magnitude by 20%-40% in the high-frequency range and results in more complex resonant behavior. When the length of the grounding electrode is less than the freezing depth, the high-frequency capacitive effect is significantly enhanced. Time-domain analysis shows that under lightning impulse conditions, the potential reduction is approximately 22% during the first return stroke and can reach up to 42% in subsequent return strokes. The study concludes that the frequency dependence of the electrical parameters of frozen soil has a considerable influence on the response of grounding electrodes and should be considered in modeling and lightning protection design.

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Professor Wei Shen

Dr. Mingxi Zhu

Dr. Xinmin Li

Dr. Ziming He