Substation grounding system optimization with utilizing a novel MATLAB application

the aim of this work is to develop an application which has the capability of modeling and optimizing regular shape (rectangular, square or L shape) ground grids under a two-layer soil model. The ground grid optimal design is the focus of this paper by using a 3-step optimization method: 1) using IEEE-80 equations to calculate touch and step potentials, which makes constraints continuous and differentiable for gradient descent methods; 2) using the optimal solutions from step 1 as the initial input into a pattern search algorithm by applying a more accurate but non-differentiable touch and step potential calculation method; 3) performing a perturbation test to determine whether the results from step 2 are globally optimal, otherwise using a genetic algorithm to re-optimize the solution from step 2 until it passes the perturbation test.