2012 International Conference on Lightning Protection (ICLP), Vienna, Austria
Transient voltage response of ground
electrodes in the time-domain
Jose Osvaldo Saldanha Paulinol
Wallace do Couto Boaventura
Alexander Barros Lima
Department of Electrical Engineering
Federal Universityof Minas Gerais
Belo Horizonte - Brazil
Ijosvaldo@cpdee.ufmg.br
Abstract-This paper proposes an alternative and simple
methodology to find the transient voltage response of a ground
electrode in the time-domain. The methodology uses a parametric
modeling approach to obtain a model, in terms of a polynomial
ratio, to represent the ground electrode impedance in the
frequency-domain. Once this model is obtained, it is used to
derive a time domain step response for the electrode impedance,
which is further used in the procedure to derive the desired
transient voltage response. The proposed approach deals with
single wire ground electrodes and also with the typical
arrangements used in transmission lines grounding towers, with
several coupled electrodes. Comparisons with other methodology
and with measured results are presented. An application example
is used to demonstrate the proposed methodology usefulness.
Keywords-ground electrode, lightning protection, time-domain
response.
I. INTRODUCTION
Several efforts have been done to compute the transient
behavior of the grounding electrodes since a long time ago [ 1]
and in the last years some important advances were achieved
[2- 1 1l
The performance of grounding electrodes are strongly
influenced by the lightning stroke current, the electrodes
geometry and the soil resistivity and permittivity values. For
the stroke current the peak value and the waveshape are
important parameters as the soil ionization around the
electrodes depends on the current peak value and the
waveshape determines the transient response. The soil
ionization phenomena will not be treated in this study and the
soil parameters will be considered invariants with the
frequency.
Usually, the models used to calculate the electrode
performance are based on electromagnetic field theory, circuit
theory or transmission lines theory [9, III
This study uses the transmission line theory to calculate the
ground electrode response in the frequency-domain with line
parameters calculated using the Sunde's equations [ 1l The
response in the time-domain is obtained using a parametric
modeling approximation that is described in section II and that
This work was supported by CNPq (Brazilian National Council for
Scientific and Technological Development ), FAPEMIG ( Minas Gerais State
Research Foundation), CEMIG (Energetic Company of Minas Gerais) and
ANEEL (Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency).
978-1-4673-1897-6/12/$31.00 ©20121EEE
Maurissone Ferreira Guimaraes
Companhia Energetica de Minas Gerais (CEMIG)
Belo Horizonte - Brazil
mauris@cemig.com.br
was used before in [12, 13] to calculate the horizontal electric
field in the border earth-air, originated by a lightning stroke.
Some comparisons with other methodology and a
comparison with a measured result are presented in section IV.
An application example is presented in section V where the
response of a typical grounding arrangement used in
transmission lines tower is analyzed.
II. THE PARAMETRIC MODELING APPROACH
Several engineering fields usually need to convert
information from frequency-domain to time-domain or vice­
versa. When using analytical frequency-domain data, the usual
approach is to take the inverse Fourier, or Laplace, transform to
obtain the time-domain counter part of the information
available in the frequency-domain. Unless when dealing with
simple equations, not rarely, a time-domain closed expression
cannot be derived. In these occasions, there is the possibility of
using numerical methods, such as the widely used and
powerful Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). However, FFT may
introduce spurious information due the windowing forced by
bandwidth or time step restrictions. An alternative solution is to
adopt a parametric modeling approach, which has been used in
this paper.
Parametric modeling procedures are used to derive a model,
in terms of a polynomial ratio, by means of data provided
either in time-domain or in frequency-domain. Starting from
Sunde's impedance formula, a set of values for 2(s) was
calculated for a set of values, where s = JOJ, OJ = 2nfandfis
the frequency, up to the highest frequency of interest.
Assuming that 2(s) can be modeled as a polynomial ratio
B(s)/A(s), by means of parametric modeling, a set of linear
equations is derived allowing the calculation of the B(s) and
A(s) coefficients. Commercial signal processing toolboxes, like
those in MatLab, are used to cope with this task. Considering
that the fitted 2(s), in the form of B(s)/A(s), reasonably agrees
with the original curve in the frequency domain, the next step
is to translate this information to time-domain. Once a partial
fraction expansion for the B(s)/A(s) formulation is obtained, a
time-domain counterpart for each fraction is easily derived as
an exponential or an exponentially damped sinusoid. This
procedure was also done using commercial signal processing
toolboxes. Once all the partial fractions time-domain C= P R lOr 100 •
(9)
counterparts are summed up, the relevant time-domain
information is obtained. The resulting time-domain curve is the
For the case of multiple horizontal ground electrodes,
relevant impulse response, which can provide the response for
Fig. 2, the mutual parameters are given by ( 10), ( 1 1) and ( 12).
any arbitrary stimulus by using the convolution theorem. In this

J( J }
case, the arbitrary stimulus was the lightning stroke current.
The parameters used in the implementation of this
procedure are as follows. It was considered a time step of
RM = � ��d -l
n ln h ( 10)

L'lt = 0.0 1 f.ls and a time span of T = 15 f.lS for the total
simulation time, the information for 2(s) was provided for a
range from 100 Hz to 2 MHz.

III. THE GROUND W[RE [MPEDANCE

[( J}
LM = f.l; �c I }ft -ln ( 1 1)

In Sunde's model [ 1, 9], a finite horizontal ground

( 12)
electrode is represented by a transmission line with impedance
given by ( 1):

2L= Lc) ;2 coth (y ( 1)

Lc
----------------------------- �

2=�'' V�
(2) id
2a
(3)
; 7)

where Lc is the electrode length and

unit-length line parameters:
L ', C' and G' are the per­

L. =L-Lc ''
Figure 2. Horizontal electrodes arrangements, mutual parameters.

(4) The per-unit-length mutual parameters:

C. =L-Cc '' (5) ( 13)

G = RLc
. 1
-- . (6) ( 14)

For a horizontal electrode, Fig. 1, the parameters

are given by (7), (8) and (9).
R, Land C ( 15)

I>
The equivalent impedance of two coupled wires can be
7 ;; ; 7)
calculated using the equivalent circuit showed in Fig. 3 [ 1].
L..-%-______
----;!* 2a Z Z-ZM
.-------------------------------------------..

ZM
Figure 1. Horizontal electrode arrangement.

nLPc I (l�
R=-
�
-l ; [ Jl n (7)
Figure 3. Equivalent circuit for two coupled wires [I].

According Sunde [1], conductors in close proximity and in

direct contact with the soil can be approached by conductors

L=�2n IJ� -l ; [ l�J l (8)

interconnected at frequent intervals. Using this condition in the
equivalent circuit of Fig. 3 the new equivalent circuit of Fig. 4
is achieved.
 z waveform developed in the electrode, measured and calculated
values using the proposed methodology.

Figure 4. Equivalent circuit for two coupled wires in direct contact with the
7 17

P =70 Om
Er = 15
f: O.6m
L-L---------------� 1 2 mm
. ------------------------------------------- .
*
7 77

soil [ 1]. 14m

Appling the equivalent circuit of Fig. 4 to the arrangement

Figure 6. Electrode arrangement - EDF experiment. Grcev [ 14].
with four wires, coupled two by two, the overall equivalent
impedance can be achieved, Fig. 5.
40

30

�
� 20

B This study
Measured
10

o��,----,---,---,
o 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7

Time (flS)

Figure 7. Current used in EDF experiment, measured and simulated

waveforms, adapted from Grcev [ 14].

Figure 5.
�
Equivalent circuit for four grounded wires coupled two by two.
800

This study
/.... _--,_..... Measured
Since, L'C' = L'MC'M and L'G'= L'MG'M, there is only one 600 '- ,

propagation constant and (1) is applied to the equivalent circuit ..... ..\. .... ... ,
of Fig. 5, with equivalent impedance (Z+ZM)/4 and length Le, � .....
_-,

400
"

leads to (16). �
..... _--

'0
>

200
( 16)

o
where ZM are done by ( 17): o 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7

Time (flS)
j L�
j() ( 17) Figure 8. Voltage waveforms,measured and simulated with the proposed
methodology, EDF experiment,adapted from Grcev [ 14].

Continuing the performance evaluation of the proposed

IV. COMPARISONS
Grcev in [ 14] presents a measured voltage in a horizontal
electrode, 14 m long, made by EDF (Electricite de France).
The electrode was constructed of a 1 16 mm2 copper wire
buried at 0.6 m depth in soil with resistivity 70 Qm and relative
permittivity equal to 15.
Fig. 6 shows the electrode arrangement used in EDF
experiment, Fig. 7 shows the measured current and the current
waveform used in the simulation and Fig. 8 shows the voltage
methodology, some comparisons are made using the results
presented by Lima et al. in [ 1 1], where the voltages developed
III a grounding arrangement similar to Fig. 9 are presented for
different values of wire length (Le) and different wire distances
(d). The soil resistivity is 1000 Qm, the soil relative
permittivity is 10 and the wire depth is 0.5 m. The wire
diameter is 5 mm and the ground arrangement is excited by a
current with 1.2 x 20 f..1S double-exponential waveform with a
peak value of 1 kA.
 x:·- - - - - - · •
Lc
d
( 18)

--- �
*2a
; ;;

f >
; ;; where:

Figure 9. Ground electrode arrangement for the simulations presented in

Figure 9.

Fig. 10 presents the comparison results for Le = 20, 30 and

", = "p [- (::: 1 ( ,:: l' ];
2 ' ( 19)

[- (::: 1 ( ,:� l' ].

90 m.
2
30 .
.. Lc =20m ", = exp (20)
d =14m

.. Lc=30m
.,
",' d =22m

30

25 First stroke
Lc=90m
...
d =66m
20
p= 1000Qm <-
E,= 10 This study ,,:.
1.2x20 flS - Curren! waveform Limae!. a1 15
0 L-�__-L__�__L--i___L__��L_�__�
�
o 2 3 4
B Subsequent stroke
Time (fls)

Figure 10.Voltage waveforms, calculated with the proposed methodology

and presented in [11]
for a 1.2x20
flS current waveform with a peak value of 1
kA. 10 15

Time (I-\s)
As shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 10 the results from the
proposed methodology are consistent with measured results
Figure 11. Typical first and subsequent lightning stroke current waveforms
[16].
and also with results obtained using other simulation
methodology. The ground electrode arrangement of Fig. 9 in a soil with
resistivity value of 2400 Qm is used. This resistivity value
V. ApPLICATION EXAMPLES
corresponds to the average value for the apparent resistivity of
Using the typical waveforms of first and subsequent the soils of the State of Minas Gerais in Brazil [ 17]. The soil
lightning stroke currents the developed voltage in a typical relative permittivity value is 10, the wire spacing is 30 m, the
ground arrangement used in transmission line towers are wire diameter is 10 mm, the depth is 0.5 m and wires lengths
calculated with the proposed methodology. are 30, 60, 90 and 120 m.
The typical return stroke current considered were proposed For comparison purposes, the voltage developed in the
by Rachidi et al. [ 15], using ( 18) proposed by Heidler [ 16], ground electrodes considering only the resistive component
with parameters shown in Table I. The first and subsequent will be also calculated. The calculated values for the resistive
strokes have 30 kA and 12 kA peak currents, respectively. Fig. component, for each wire length, are R = 45 Q for Le = 30 m,
1 1 shows the used current waveforms. R = 27 Q for Le = 60 m, R = 20 Q for Le = 90 m and R = 16 Q
for Le = 120 m.
TABLE l. PARAMETERS FOR THE RETURN STROKE CURRENTS
The Fig. 12 up to Fig. 15 shows the voltage waveforms
Parameters
developed in the ground electrode arrangement. Fig. 12 is for
Stroke [, Til T12 r, Tll T22
11, 112 Le = 30 m, Fig. 13 for Le = 60 m, Fig. 14 for Le = 90 m and
First
Sub.
( kA)
28
10.7
(I-\S)
1.8
0.25
(I-\s)
95
2.5
2
2
(kA)
- 2-
6.5
( I-\s)
- -
( I-\S)

230 2
Fig. 15 for Le = 120 m. In the curves showed in Fig. 12 up to
Fig. 15 the resistive response were obtained multiplying the
current waveform by the resistance value (resistive component)
and the transient voltage response were obtained with the
proposed methodology.
 1600
p =24000m Transient voltage response
600
p =24000m
Resistive response- V= R 1(t) &, =10 Transient vo ltage response
&, =10
1400 Resistive response- V=R 1(t)
R = 160
R =450 "'.�----- 500
1200 Lc=30m
Lc = 120m�________
____����==�____

-
> 1000 ........
First stroke
e-
" First stroke
oJ) 800
Z Subsequent stroke
"0
> 600 Subsequent stroke
,,>r
400 -----
---- ,:;�---
200

0
0 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
o 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Time (!!s)
Time (!!s)
Figure 12. Transient and resistive response of a typical transmission tower
Figure 15. Transient and resistive response of a typical transmission tower
ground arrangement in a soil of 2400 Om, Ie = 30 m.
ground arrangement in a soiI of 2400 Om,Ie = 120 m.

1000
p =24000m Transient voltage response From Fig. 12 up to Fig. 15 it is possible to conclude that for
Resistive response- V=R l(t) the typical first current stroke the ground electrodes responds
&, =10
800 R =270 as it has only the resistive component. A delay is observed
Lc=60m between the transient response and the resistive response but
the voltage peak values are identical. Although the peak values
600
First stroke are the same, the transient response has an increase rate (dVldt)
larger than the resistive response for the cases of Figs. 13, 14
Subsequent stroke
and 15.
,>r
400

For the typical subsequent stroke, there are some significant

200 differences between the transient response and the resistive
response, notably in Fig. 14 and Fig. 15, where the voltage
peak value for the transient response is almost twice that of the
o
o 2 3 5 6 7 8 resistive response for Fig. 14 and around 2.7 for Fig. 15.
It is interesting to note that in Fig. 15 the peak value of the
transient response for the subsequent stroke is the same for the
Figure 13. Transient and resistive response of a typical transmission tower
first stroke current, despite the first stroke current peak value is
ground arrangement in a soiI of 2400 Om, Ie = 60 m.
30 kA and the subsequent current stroke value is 12 kA.
These characteristics are related to the fact that longer
700 electrodes exhibit resistive behavior in the low frequency range
P =24000m
Transient voltage response
Resistive response- V = R 1(t) and inductive behavior in the high frequency range. The used
&, =10
600
---- current waveforms present these two frequency ranges,
R =200
Lc=90m
comparatively the first stroke waveform is characterized by a
500
low frequency range and the subsequent stroke waveform by a
> high frequency range.
e- 400 First stroke
"
oJ) This resistive/inductive behavior is usually treated in the
Z 300 Subsequent stroke
"0 literature as the "effective length problem".
>
200 With the proposed methodology is very easy to determine
the effective length and the transient response of ground
100 arrangements.
o VI. CONCLUSIONS
o 2 3 5 6 7 8
The proposed methodology is very simple, easy to use, and
allows the determination of the time-domain response of
Figure 14. Transient and resistive response of a typical transmission tower grounding electrodes in a fast and efficient way. The results
ground arrangement in a soiI of 2400 Om,Ie = 90 m. from the methodology presented in this paper are consistent
with those obtained with other methodology and also with
experimental results.
 The simulation of grounding arrangements with several
coupled wires is straightforward and the mutual effects are
computed in a very simple way.
The presented application example demonstrates the
usefulness of the proposed methodology.

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