NAPS, University of Waterloo, Canada, October 23-24, 2000 Wave Propagation in Overhead Wires with Ground Return By JOHN R. CARSON I HE problem of wave propagation along a transmission system composed of an overhead wire parallel to the (plane) surface of the earth, in spite of its great technical importance, does not appear to have been satisfactorily solved.!. While a complete solution. of the actual problem is impossible, on account of the inequalities in the earth's surface and its lack of conductive homogeneity, the sélution of the problem,’ where the actual earth’ is replaced by a plane homo: geneous semi-infinite solid, is of considerable theoretical and practical interest. The solution of this problem is given in the present paper, together with formulas for calculating inductive disturbances in neighboring transmission systems. The axis of the wire is taken parallel to the s-axis at height h above the xz-plane and passes through the y-axis at point O' as shown in Fig. 1 herewith. ‘The “image” of the wire is designated by 0”. For y>0 (in the'dielectric) the medium is supposed to have zero conductivity, while for y<0 (in the ground) the conductivity of the medium is designated by X. The xz-plane represents the surface of separation between dielectric and ground. We consider a wave propagated along the Z-axis and the current, charge and field are supposed to contain the common factor exp (—Tz++ia!), which, however, will be omitted for ‘convenience in the formulas. The propagation constant, I, is to be determined. It is assumed, ab initio, as a very small quantity in c.g.s. units? In the ground (70) the axial electric force is formulated as the ‘See Rudenberg, Zt. £. Angewandt, Math. u. Mechanik, Band S, 1925, In that paper the current density in the ground is assumed to be distributed with radial symmetry. The resulting formulas are not in agreement with those of the present paper. Since this paper was set up in type I have learned that formulas equivalent fo equations (26), (28), (31) for the mulual impedance of two parellel wires were obtained by my colleague, Dr. G. A. Campbell, in 1917, Te is to ble hoped that his solution will be published shortly The simplifying assumptions introduced in this analysis are essentially the same as those employed and discussed in "Wave Propagation Over Parallel Wires: The Proximity Effect,” Phil. Mag., Vol. xl, Apeil, 1921 539540 BELL SYSTEM TECHNICAL JOURNAL 5 general solution, symmetrical with respect to =, of the wave equation; thus Esa ~ [7 Fs) cos su oFFdp, 950 a where a=4rho, deconductivity of ground in elm. cg.s. units, i=V-1, w/2x=frequency in cycles per second. (In the following analysis and formulas, elm. eg.s. units are employed throughout). 4 Fig. Assuming that in the ground Z, and E, are negligible compared with Bs, we have from the formula, curl E=~ 21,542 BELL SYSTEM TECHNICAL JOURNAL Also at the surface of separation af the two media (y=0), Is and Il, must be continuous. Equating che values of Hf, and IL, at y=0, as given by (2), (3) and by (7), (3) and (8), (10), we have —— foV i Fie. F(u) 20.2" +4(4), Ee Pe) =2re™— (0), whence (a) (2) which determines the functions Fu) and (4). Inserting the value of F(x), as given by (11) in (1), the axial electric force E, in the ground ($0) and’therefore the distribution of current density in the ground is expressed as a Fourier integral in terms of the frequency o/2n, the current I in the wire, the height h of the wire above ground, and the conductivity d of the ground. Similarly the insertion of (u),,as given by (12) in formulas (7) and (8) gives the magnetic field J/s, £1; in the dielectric. . Thus Bis) Bm itl fee This can be further simplified if we write vaxv. yayva ahve, whence Epa n40l [VF e FF cos vada, 50. (14) The axial electric force in the dielectric is now to be formulated This is always derivable from a vector and a scalar potential; thus F,= —iwd,—2y, 5 y= ids EV, (15) where Ay is the vector potential of the axial currents, and V the scalar potential. Consequently,WAVE PROPAGATION sal Whence, in the ground Heo Bl” Vit Fie Flu) cos xe @) n=if a. Fu)sin xp.e) dy, (3) it being understood that yS0. The function F(x) in the preceding formulas is to be determined by the boundary conditions. In the dielectric, Hz and H, may be regarded as composed of two components; thus y= TL8+ 1h, I= HS+H,;', where Hl, IL,? designate the field due to the current I in the wire, and Hig, ITj the field of the ground current, Neglecting axial displacement currents in the dielectric, and as- suming that the wire is of sufficiently small radius so that the di bution of currertt over its cross section is symmetrical, we have @) 6) where P= VETQ=I, cos 0” = 452, © sin 0" =x/p' The secondary magnetic field 11,', 1’ is taken as ~ id= [oaeos suede, @ 1h) =— [usin suede ® At the surface of separation y=! Fourier integrals ), II.®, II, are expressible as the Hem 2r [cos suermis, o) Hy=20 Lt * Sin xpie™Mdne (a0)WAVE PROPAGATION 543 E,(xiy) ~ Ex(x,0) = ~ al aaley) Al) —Z(Voay) — Po) (6) Here E,(x,0) is the axial electric intensity at the surface of the ground plane (y=0), and y)~Adle, L ” Tae,y)dy. an V(x.) — Vo is the difference in the scalar potential between the point xy and the ground, which is due to the charges on the wire and on the surface of the ground. For convenience, it will be designated by V. By means of (16) and the preceding formulas we get * Byw tal {OV File WH cos xn du (18) ~i QT log (o"/o") yz0 where oa ‘=distance of point x,y from wire, oa VE =distance of point x.y from image of wire The first two terms on the right hand side of (18) represent the electric force due to the varying magnetic field; the term —2V represents the axial electric intensity due to the charges on the surface of the wire and the ground. If Q be the charge per unit length, 7 is calculable by usual electrostatic methods on the assumption that the surface of the wire and the surface of the ground are equipotential faces, and their difference of potential is Q/C where C is the electro- static capacity between wire and ground. By aid of the preceding analysis and formulas, we are now in a position to derive the propagation constant, T', and characteristic impedance, K, which characterize wave propagation along the system. Let 2 denote the “internal” or “intrinsic” impedance of the wire per 2 As a rheck on this formula note that together with (14) it satisfies the condition of continuity of By at y =0. 4 See "Wave Propagation Over Par Vol. sli, Apr, 1921 lel Wires: ‘The Proximity Effect," Phil. Mfag.,saa BELL SYSTEM TECHNICAL JOURNAL unit length. (With small error this may usually be taken as the resist- ance per unit length of the wire.) The axial electric intensity at the surface of the wire is then 2. Equating this to the axial electric in- tensity at the surface of the wire as given by (18) and replacing 3/32 by —T, we have a= — bal [Vir FI— end i QoL. log (p""/a) +1V. Writing V=Q/C and iwQ=TI-Gv=T1-& ieQeII-GV=rI-& (19) where G is the leakage conductance to ground per unit length, we have, solving for I, oe J T= (G+iaC)le-bi2e. log (0"/a)] +40 f” (ViFFI-we-™¥aw)]” (20) Writing this in the usual form Tt=(R+iX)(G+iwC): (21) the characteristic impedance is given by RHX Raatee 2) and the series impedance per unit length of the circuit is R+iX =Z=s+i2u, log (6"/a) +40 Sf "(VE FE me tdn, (28) Tt will be observed that the first two terms on the right hand side of (23) represent the series impedance of the circuit if she ground is a pe ‘fect conductor; the infinite integral formulates the effect of the finite conductivity of the ground. ‘The mutual impedance® Zi: between two parallel ground return circuits with wires at heights ji; and hz above ground and a separation x between their vertical planes is given by ida. log (6"/p') +4 J.” (Vi FE—we WH c05 x'u day (24) 2: I, * Ie will be noted that the mutual impedance is equel to the axial electric intensi at the axis of the second wire due to the varying magnetic field of unit current in the first wire and its accompanying distribution of ground current.WAVE PROPAGATION 548 where p= VUE fal haha From the preceding the series self impedance of the ground return circuit may be conveniently written as Za242' (25) and the mutual impedance as Zu=ZitZie (28) where Z°, Zz are the self and mutual impedances respectively, om the assumption of a perfectly conducting ground, and Ziate f" VirFI- wean, 0) Zarate L VEER eH cos xu du. (28) The calculation of the circuit constants and the electromagnetic field in-the dielectric depends, therefore, on the evaluation of an infinite integral of the form Jeoa)=I= [SFI we-™, cos aH da. 29) In terms of this integral 2! =4u.J(2h' 0) (30) Zig=do.S(hy the, . To the solution of the infinite integral J(p,g) we now proceed. (31) ur ‘The solution of equation (29), that is, the evaluation of J(p.9) can be made to depend on the solution of the infinite integral Lo veFee tie546 BELL SYSTEM TECHNICAL JOURNAL which has been worked out and communicated to me by R. M. Foster: Itis ${ Kao) +6(08) where K(x) is the Bessel function of the second kind and first order as defined by Jahnke und Emde, Funktionentafeln, pg. 93, and G(x) is the absolutely convergent series x Ge) =F — 35+ aT 3 On the basis of this solution, itis a straightforward though intricate and tedious process to derive the following solution for J(p,q) of equation (29). Writing r=VP Fe and O=tan-(a/p), it is J=P+iQ in which x 1 P=Z-0 +5 1 1 (32) -ygatgety = $+ F(loe 4) sp Gow 1 1 (33) tga gt yee In these equations log + is Euler's constant: 71.7811, log 2 0.11503, log 7 0.57722 and ey, os 00) 04 5u 5 su 5, are infinite series defined as follows Lert Lyryt (£)eos 20-ghy($)' ae 008 stag ($)' sn 28 (4)' sin 604. sen gig () cos 0-75 (5)" eo 80WAVE PROPAGATION 547 :(5)' sin 4o~-755,(5)' sin 804... =1008.0_r cos 58 cos 96 7 RRR Tt qux72£0838_77 C0570, _ ros 110 CNRS SSRTAO T LETLOLIIELS Ss, approximately, oem (14545 ~5)atn(3) ©0940 L ~(1tg4gttee =3" approximately. It is to be regretted that the foregoing formulas appear so com- plicated. The series, however, are very rapidly convergent and for $2 only the two leading terms of each series need be retained. For SI, only the leading terms are of importance. For the important range rS1/4, 7 2 2). 7 Pai gypl om OF Tg ms 20 (0.6728-+log=) +75 © sin 20, (34) Q 0.0386-+ 5108 (2) + ter cos 0 (38) For r>5 the following asymptotic expansions, derivable from (29) by repeated partial integrations, are to be employed. 1_ cos 36,3 _ cos 50 a tee » (36) ey en548 BELL SYSTEM TECHNICAL JOURNAL For large values of r(r>10), these reduce to L4icos@ 00520, 1 8) Ie In view of the somewhat complicated character of the function in the range 1/4576 the curves shown below have been computed. Powerman ea 32 interpolation it is possible to estimate with fair accuracy the value of the functions for intermediate values of ©. ‘These show J=P+iQ as a function of r for @=0, ByWAVE PROPAGATION S19 > Values oF = Fig.3 Qmimaginary part of J IV The theory and formulas of the preceding sections will now be reviewed and summarized as regards their principal applications to technical transmission problems where the ground forms, in whole or part, the “return” part of the circuit. In such problems we are interested in the electric intensity in the dielectric and in the ground, and in particular in the self impedance and mutual impedances of ground return circuits. The calculation of these quantities is pro- vided for by the general analysis and the solution of the infinite integral J. Reference should be made to Fig. 1shown in section I for the geometry of the system and coordinate system employed. 1. The Axial Electric Intensity E, ix the Dielectric. (See equations (18) and (18) ). 2V- (2 log (6"/o) +401$50 BELL SYSTEM TECHNICAL JOURNAL where of = Ve =distance of point in dielectric from axis of wire. o' = Vy =distance of point in dielectric from image of wire. rapa O=sin“'(x/0"”) a=4nha. ‘These values of r and © are, of course, to be employed in calculating J=P+iQ from the formulas and curves of the preceding section. As a special case the electric intensity at the surface of the earth is E,=—4oJT 2. Self Impedance of Ground Return Circiit. (See equations (25). (27), (30) ). 24 40d Z%=self impedance with perfectly conducting ground. r=2hV/a 3. Mutual Impedance of Ground Return Circuits. (See equations (26), (28), (G1) ). Zu=Zietdol Zig=mutual impedance with perfectly conducting ground. ra Vav Unt in t= 0" Va O=sin- (x/o") The axial electric intensity E, in the ground (<0) is given by equation (1), and the subsequent analysis, whence (VF Fi u).cos xn. Wate Vit eet gy,WAVE PROPAGATION 351 where, as before werVa WahVa ind ‘Va times the depth below the surface of the ground. seve. The integral can undoubtedly be evaluated in somewhat the same way as (29) and can in any case be numerically computed without much difficulty. Owing, however, to the secondary technical interest in the electric intensity below the surface of the earth, the detailed solution hhas not been undertaken, nor has the magnetic field been worked out. v The practical utility of the preceding theory and-formulas will now be illustrated by a brief sketch of their application to two important transmission problems. Tue Wave ANTENNA When a transmission line with "ground return" is employed as a radio receiving antenna it is called a wave antenna. The theory and design of such an antenna requires a knowledge of the transmission characteristics of the ground return circuit, which are calculable, as shown above, from the geometry and constants of the overhead wire, together with Z’=4uJ, which may be termed the “ground return” impedance. We assume that the wire is approximately 30 ft. above the ground (u=102) and that the frequency is 5.10! e.p.s. corresponding to the frequency employed in Trans-Atlantic radio communication. The ground conductivity \ is exceedingly variable, depending on the locality ‘and weather conditions. Calculations of Z’ will therefore be made for two extreme cases, X=10-! and A= 10-" which should cover the range of variation encountered in practice.582 BELL SYSTEM TECHNICAL JOURNAL Correspondingly, r=2h/a has che values 4.0 and 0.4, respectively. Reference to the preceding formulas and curves for J, for r=4.0 and r=04, give J=0.126+i 0.168, A=10-# 1.32344 0.871, A=10 whence the corresponding values of 2’ are 2! = 40, (0.12644 0.168), 2! = 4a. (0.323-+4 0.871), ‘These are the “ground return" impedances per unit length in elm. 5. units; to convert to ohms per mile they are to be multiplied by the factor 1.61X10~, Consequently setting «= 7.108, we get Zz a 44x(13-4i 1.7), dele 4dr (3.24 8.7), r=10 Comparison of these formulas shows that an hundred-fold increase in the resistivity of the ground increases the resistance component of the ground return impedance by the factor 2.5 and increases its reactance only five-fold. That is to say, the ground return impedance is not sensitive to wide variations in the resistivity of the earth, a fortunate circumstance in view of its wide variability and our lack of precise information regarding it. Inpuctiow From Evectric Ratway Systems A particularly important application of the preceding analysis is to the problems connected with the disturbances induced in parallel communication lines by alternating current electric railways. As- suming the frequency as 25 c.p.s., we have corresponding to d= 10-" and A= 10", Va- Taking the height of the trolley wire as approximately 30 ft., = 10? and assuming the parallel telephone as the same height above ground and separated by approximately 120 ft. x= 4.10%, and r=Vav iy ATX10°Vex, 45 10-# and 0.4510"WAVE PROPAGATION 553 and corresponding to the values of « taken above . 2 and 0.02 in round numbers, while Omsin-t 755 =08° 30" approximately, For both cases, therefore, we can employ, in calculating J=P+4Q, the approximate formulas, 7 r 2). 70. P= cos 0+ 17 cos 20 (.0728+log 2) +770 sin 20, 1 1 = ~0.0386+} tog (2) + ayy ore For X= 10-* and r=0.2, this gives J=0.309-+4 1.135 and a= 4u(0.369-+4 1.135). The foregoing assumes that the only return conductor is the ground. If, however, an equal and opposite current flows in the rail we must subtract from the foregoing mutual impedance, the mutual impedance between rail and telephone line; that is, the mutual impedance Z', etween the telephone line and a conductor at the surface of the earth. For this case ol = iF Fat 4.12 X10 4 vit = 0.242, r= 0.184 for N= 10-", 16° sin’ ‘The corresponding value of J is J=0378+i 1.165 and the resultant mutual impedance between railway and parallel telephone line is, Z}2=40(0.369—0.378+i (1.135~1.165) ) =40(0.009—i 0.030). The very large reduction in mutual impedance, due to the current in the rail, is striking.354 BELL SYSTEM TECHNICAL JOURNAL For the case of )=10-, the corresponding calculations give fa 4u(0.391+6 2.27) with no current in rail, and fa" 4ux( —0.001 i 0.002) with equal and opposite current in rail. It is evident from these figures that the reduction in mutual impedance, due to the current in the'rail, is practically independent of the ground conductivity, at least at the separation specified.