METHODOLOGY OF EARTH RESISTIVITY OF SOIL

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 METHOLOGY FOR EARTH RESISITIVITY OF SOIL

STANDARDS:-
 IS:3043-2018

OBJECT:-
 TO DETERMINE EARTH RESISITIVITY OF SOIL.

INTRODUCTION:-
 Soil resistivity is a basic parameter and one of the most important methods for the
design of effective grounding and lightning prevention or protection systems.
 In addition, resistivity profiling can yield information on characteristics (including
depth) of different layers in the subsurface.
 The resistivity of rocks or soils is in general a complicated function of their
porosity, permeability, ionic content of pore fluids, and mineralization.
 The resistivity of earth varies over a wide range depending on its moisture
content.
TEST LOCATION:-
 In the evaluation of earth resistivity for substations and generating stations, at
least eight test directions shall be chosen from the center of the station to cover
the whole site.
 In case of transmission lines, the measurements shall be taken along the direction
of the line throughout the length approximately once in every 4 kilometers.

PRINCIPLE OF TEST:-

 Wiener’s four electrode method is recommended for these types of field

investigations. In this method, four electrodes are driven into the earth along a
straight line at equal intervals. A current I is passed through the two outer
electrodes and the earth and the voltage difference V, observed between the two
inner electrodes. The current I flowing into the earth produces an electric field
proportional to its density and to the resistivity of the soil.
 The voltage V measured between the inner electrodes is, therefore, proportional
to the field. Consequently, the resistivity will be proportional to the ratio of the
voltage to current.

ρ = 2Π × S R -------------------------------(1)
Where

ρ = resistivity of soil in ohm-meters,

S = distance between successive electrodes in meters, and
R = megger reading in ohms.

EQUIPMENT:-

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  4 Pole Digital —Ground resistance tester
 Earthling Rods
 Hammer
 Connecting cables
 Measuring tape
 User's Manuals for meter
 Small sledgehammer

NOTE:- This procedure is applicable for DDR3 Machine.

PROCEDURE:-
 At the selected test site, in the chosen direction, four electrodes are driven into the
earth along a straight line at equal intervals, s.
 The depth of the electrodes in the ground shall be of the order of 10 to 15 cm.
 An appropriate range on the instrument is thus selected to obtain clear readings
avoiding the two ends of the scale as far as possible.
 Connect the terminal C1 and C2 on the current unit to the current electrodes.
 Connect the terminal P1 and P2 on the potential unit to the potential electrodes.
 Keep the DIRECT/REVERSE switch in ‘direct’ position.
 Switch ‘ON’ the digital display switch on P unit.
 Switch ‘ON’ the S.P. switch of the P unit.
 Switch ‘ON’ the digital display switch on the current.
 Set the P display to read ‘000’ by suitably adjusting the S.P. coarse and fine
controls. This cancels the back ground self-potential across the potential
electrodes. Keep R & V switch in ‘R’ position.
 Set the current control knob in ‘1’ Position.in this position the C unit sends
100ma, of current.
 Press the ‘press for current’ switch of C unit and observe the digital readout on. If
the readout is 100 within 1% accuracy then the voltage set on is appropriate.
 If not release the press for current switch and adjust the voltage starting from
lower value, by changing the voltage control to an appropriate value so as to get
the value of 100 on the C display for setting ‘1’.
 After ensuring the value of the current being sent into the ground is correctly
adjusted and displayed on observe the digital display on P unit. This value
multiplied by the multiplication factor (RED) set on the current control gives the
value of resistance ‘R’.
 Keep the direct / reverse switch in reverse position. Repeat the above operation.
 Release the press for current switch and proceed to the next electrode separation.
 Calculate the resistivity of soil by using equation no. 1.
 During the above test, it would be desirable to get information about the
horizontal and vertical variations in earth resistivity over the site under
consideration for the correct computation of the resistivity to be used in the design
calculations.

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  The vertical variations may be detected by repeating the test at a given location in
a chosen direction with a number of different electrode spacing, increasing from 2
to 250m or more, preferably in the steps 2, 5,10,15,25 and 50m or more.
 If the resistivity variations are within 20 to 30%, the soil in the vicinity of the test
location may be considered uniform. Otherwise a curve of resistivity versus
electrode spacing shall be plotted and this curve further analyzed to deduce
stratification of soil into two or more layers of appropriate thickness or a soil of
gradual resistivity variation.
 The horizontal variations are studied by taking measurements in various
directions from the center of the station.
Computation of earth resistivity of uniform Soil:-
 When the earth resistivity readings for different electrode spacing in a direction
are within 20 to 30%, the soil is considered to be uniform.
 When the spacing is increased gradually from low values, at a stage, it may be
found that the resistivity reading is more or less constant irrespective of the
increase in the electrode spacing.
 The resistivity for this spacing is noted and taken as the resistivity for that
direction. In a similar manner, resistivity for at least eight equally spaced
directions from the center of the site is measured.
 These resistivity are plotted on a graph sheet in the appropriate directions
choosing a scale. A closed curve is plotted on the graph sheets jointing all the
resistivity points plotted to get the polar resistivity curve.
 The area inside the polar resistivity curve is measured and equivalent circle of the
same area is found out.
 The radius of this equivalent circle is the average resistivity of the site under
consideration.
 The average resistivity thus obtained may be used for the design of the ear-thing
grid and other computations and the results will be reasonably accurate when the
soil is homogeneous.

Polar Curve

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 CONNECTIONS FOR A FOUR-TERMINAL

TEST CONNECTION TO MEASURE THE SUM OF THE POTENTIAL ELECTRODE

RESISTANCES
Resistivity values for several types of soils:-
Type of Soil or Water Typical Resistivity Ωm Usual Limit Ωm

Clay 40 8 to 70

Cla 100 4 to 300

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Shale, slates, sandstone 120 10 to 100

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Peat, loam & mud 150 5 to 250

Range of soil Resistivity(ohm-m) Soil classification

Less than 25 Severely corrosive
25-50 Moderately corrosive
50-100 Mildly corrosive
Above 100 Very mild corrosive

OBSERVATION SHEET – SOIL RESISTIVITY TEST

DATE OF TESTING: TESTED BY

SITE LOCATION:

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S.N. TEST POINT ANGLE DISTANCE A RESISTANCE RESISTIVITY(ῼm)
LOCATION (°) (m) (ῼ)
1. 0
45
90
135
2. 0
45
90
135
3. 0
45
90
135
4. 0
45
90
135

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RESULT:-
The result of the simulation showed the graphs that described the relationship between the soil
resistivity and grounding resistance.