Substation Engineering · Calculator #48

Substation Grounding Grid Calculator

IEEE 80-2013 · IEC 61936-1:2021 · GB/T 50065-2011 — Mesh voltage, step voltage, GPR, Onder­donk conductor sizing

IEEE 80-2013 IEC 61936-1:2021 GB/T 50065-2011 Free 8 Languages Annex B Verified
Design standard
Grid geometry
Soil model
Surface layer (crushed stone / asphalt)
Fault parameters
Human factors
Ground rods
Conductor sizing (Onderdonk)
Intermediate Factors

Standards references

    This tool implements published IEEE/IEC/GB equations for preliminary grounding grid design. A final design requires site-specific soil resistivity measurements (Wenner/Schlumberger method), full grid model simulation (CYMGRD, WinIGS, or ETAP), and review by a licensed protection/grounding engineer.

    Why mesh voltage matters

    During a ground fault, fault current flowing through the grounding grid creates voltage gradients across the substation yard. The mesh voltage Em is the worst-case touch voltage experienced by a person standing on the surface and touching grounded equipment. If Em exceeds the allowable touch voltage (which depends on body impedance, surface layer resistivity and fault duration), cardiac fibrillation risk rises sharply. IEEE 80-2013 and IEC 61936-1 both derive allowable limits from IEC TS 60479-1 body-current curves and require Em < Etouch at every mesh corner.

    Need a full grounding study? FrameAI generates stamped substation grounding reports with IEEE 80 / IEC 61936-1 references, Wenner soil model, and fabrication-ready conductor schedule.

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