Optimization of a Surface Wire Electrical Grounding System for Tactical Operations
Abstract
A new surface wire grounding system was developed by the Human Engineering Laboratory (HEL) of Aberdeen Proving Grounds to replace the single 6ft, driven rod now in service for grounding tactical systems. The new system consists of a wire placed around the periphery of the vehicle to be grounded. The wire is held in place with a number of relatively short electrodes driven into the earth. The U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (USACERL) was asked by the Army Development and Employment Agency (ADEA) to optimize a number of parameters associated with the new system before fielding it. The main parameters considered by USACERL in this study were electrode design, wire rope characteristics, and takeup reel design. Theoretical and experimental studies indicated that an increase in surface area of an individual earth electrode lowers its resistance to earth. The practical result of this phenomenon is that it is possible to decrease the number of electrodes while maintaining the same total resistance to earth. USACERL provided ADEA with drawings and two prototype systems with a reduced number of redesigned electrodes and a modified takeup reel for field testing.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA213576
Entities
People
- Carolyn Keen
- Paul Nielsen
Organizations
- Construction Engineering Research Laboratory