Proposals for Inclusion of the Electrode Radius in Grounding Systems Analysis Using Interpolating Element-Free Galerkin Method

In this paper, the interpolating element-free Galerkin meshless method is presented as a new, simple, and accurate proposal for the analysis of electrostatic grounding problems. A very important aspect to ensure the precision of this numerical solution is the correct modeling of the electrode radius. So, two techniques are proposed to include the electrode radius effect in the analysis. The problem of a vertical electrode introduced in a homogeneous soil is considered as study case. The results of the electrical potential along the ground surface and grounding resistance calculated using interpolating element-free Galerkin method, for different values of radius, are compared with those generated by the method of moments.