Measurement of Bulk Electrical Properties Using GPR with a Variable Reflector

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 489-496
Author(s):  
J. David Redman ◽  
A. Peter Annan ◽  
Nectaria Diamanti
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Properties ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Ground Penetrating Radar ◽  
Arrival Time ◽  
Wood Chip ◽  
Direct Wave ◽  
Trace Data ◽  
Ground Penetrating ◽  
Prototype Instrument

Bulk electrical properties of media are important inherently for ground penetrating radar (GPR) applications and for providing a means to determine indirectly other physical properties such as moisture content. We have developed a reflector whose reflectivity can be controlled electronically. This variable reflector controlled by a GPR provides an effective method to measure bulk electrical properties of media. For sample measurements, the GPR is placed on one side of a sample and the variable reflector on the opposite side. GPR trace data are then acquired with the reflector in an on-state and in the off-state. By differencing these measurements, we improve the ability to detect the specific reflection event from the variable reflector. This process removes both the direct wave and clutter from the trace data, improving the quality of the refection event and our ability to accurately pick its arrival time and amplitude. We describe the variable reflector, a prototype instrument based on the reflector and numerical modeling performed to understand its response. We also show the results of testing applications to the measurement of wood chip moisture content and monitoring of the electrical properties of concrete during the curing process.

scholarly journals Non-destructive evaluation of moisture content in wood by using Ground Penetrating Radar

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamza Reci ◽  
Tien Chinh Maï ◽  
Zoubir Mehdi Sbartaï ◽  
Lara Pajewski ◽  
Emanuela Kiri
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Ground Penetrating Radar ◽  
Wood Fiber ◽  
Fiber Direction ◽  
Direct Wave ◽  
Reflected Waves ◽  
Moisture Variation ◽  
Reflection Configuration ◽  
Ground Penetrating ◽  
Non Destructive

Abstract. This paper presents the results of a series of laboratory measurements carried out to study how the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) signal is affected by moisture variation in wood material. The effects of the wood fiber direction, with respect to the polarisation of the electromagnetic field, are investigated. The relative permittivity of wood and the amplitude of the electric field received by the radar are measured for different humidity levels, by using the direct-wave method in Wide Angle Radar Reflection configuration, where one GPR antenna is moved while the other is kept in a fixed position. The received signal is recorded for different separations between transmitting and receiving antennas. Direct waves are compared to reflected waves: it is observed that they show a different behaviour when the moisture content varies, due to their different propagation paths.

scholarly journals Non-destructive evaluation of moisture content in wood using ground-penetrating radar

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 575-581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamza Reci ◽  
Tien Chinh Maï ◽  
Zoubir Mehdi Sbartaï ◽  
Lara Pajewski ◽  
Emanuela Kiri
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Ground Penetrating Radar ◽  
Dielectric Constants ◽  
Fibre Direction ◽  
Direct Wave ◽  
Reflected Waves ◽  
Moisture Variation ◽  
Reflection Configuration ◽  
Ground Penetrating ◽  
Non Destructive

Abstract. This paper presents the results of a series of laboratory measurements, carried out to study how the ground-penetrating radar (GPR) signal is affected by moisture variation in wood material. The effects of the wood fibre direction, with respect to the polarisation of the electromagnetic field, are investigated. The relative permittivity of wood and the amplitude of the electric field received by the radar are measured for different humidity levels using the direct-wave method in wide angle radar reflection configuration, in which one GPR antenna is moved while the other is kept in a fixed position. The received signal is recorded for different separations between the transmitting and receiving antennas. Dielectric constants estimated from direct waves are compared to those estimated from reflected waves: direct and reflected waves show different behaviour when the moisture content varies, due to their different propagation paths.

Laboratory test of snow wetness influence on electrical conductivity measured with ground penetrating radar

2009 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nils Granlund ◽  
Angela Lundberg ◽  
James Feiccabrino ◽  
David Gustafsson
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Conductivity ◽  
Electrical Properties ◽  
Laboratory Test ◽  
Liquid Water ◽  
Ground Penetrating Radar ◽  
Wave Attenuation ◽  
Radar Measurements ◽  
Ground Penetrating ◽  
Radar Wave ◽  
The Relationship

Ground penetrating radar operated from helicopters or snowmobiles is used to determine snow water equivalent (SWE) for annual snowpacks from radar wave two-way travel time. However, presence of liquid water in a snowpack is known to decrease the radar wave velocity, which for a typical snowpack with 5% (by volume) liquid water can lead to an overestimation of SWE by about 20%. It would therefore be beneficial if radar measurements could also be used to determine snow wetness. Our approach is to use radar wave attenuation in the snowpack, which depends on electrical properties of snow (permittivity and conductivity) which in turn depend on snow wetness. The relationship between radar wave attenuation and these electrical properties can be derived theoretically, while the relationship between electrical permittivity and snow wetness follows a known empirical formula, which also includes snow density. Snow wetness can therefore be determined from radar wave attenuation if the relationship between electrical conductivity and snow wetness is also known. In a laboratory test, three sets of measurements were made on initially dry 1 m thick snowpacks. Snow wetness was controlled by stepwise addition of water between radar measurements, and a linear relationship between electrical conductivity and snow wetness was established.

scholarly journals Ground penetrating radar detection of subsnow slush on ice-covered lakes in interior Alaska

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 1435-1443 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Gusmeroli ◽  
G. Grosse
Keyword(s):  
Ground Penetrating Radar ◽  
Geophysical Methods ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
Water Harvesting ◽  
Lake Ice ◽  
Wet Snow ◽  
Dry Conditions ◽  
Ground Penetrating ◽  
Ice Water

Abstract. Lakes are abundant throughout the pan-Arctic region. For many of these lakes ice cover lasts for up to two thirds of the year. The frozen cover allows human access to these lakes, which are therefore used for many subsistence and recreational activities, including water harvesting, fishing, and skiing. Safe traveling condition onto lakes may be compromised, however, when, after significant snowfall, the weight of the snow acts on the ice and causes liquid water to spill through weak spots and overflow at the snow-ice interface. Since visual detection of subsnow slush is almost impossible our understanding on overflow processes is still very limited and geophysical methods that allow water and slush detection are desirable. In this study we demonstrate that a commercially available, lightweight 1 GHz, ground penetrating radar system can detect and map extent and intensity of overflow. The strength of radar reflections from wet snow-ice interfaces are at least twice as much in strength than returns from dry snow-ice interface. The presence of overflow also affects the quality of radar returns from the base of the lake ice. During dry conditions we were able to profile ice thickness of up to 1 m, conversely, we did not retrieve any ice-water returns in areas affected by overflow.

scholarly journals Application Research of Ground-Penetrating Radar in the Quality Inspection of Concrete Anti-seepage Panels

2019 ◽  
Vol 136 ◽  
pp. 04032
Author(s):  
Meng Li ◽  
Changde Ren ◽  
Lei Zhao ◽  
Shijiao Luo
Keyword(s):  
Ground Penetrating Radar ◽  
Rock Foundation ◽  
Quality Inspection ◽  
Local Instability ◽  
Application Research ◽  
Safe Operation ◽  
Ground Penetrating

If the sand-free cushion of concrete anti-seepage panels of reservoir is void, it will cause local instability or even crack and collapse of the panel, which will lead to large leakage of reservoir and affect the safe operation of the project. In this paper, the ground-penetrating radar (GPR) method is used to scan the concrete panel. The results show that the quality of the panel is good overall, the distribution of rebar is uniform, and the contact between the panel and the sand-free cushion is dense. Some panels have internal voids and the contact between the cushion and the rock foundation is not dense, while no obvious hollowing is found in the sand-free cushion.

scholarly journals Multi-channel ground-penetrating radar to explore spatial variations in thaw depth and moisture content in the active layer of a permafrost site

2010 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Wollschläger ◽  
H. Gerhards ◽  
Q. Yu ◽  
K. Roth
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Active Layer ◽  
Ground Penetrating Radar ◽  
Soil Moisture Content ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Thaw Depth ◽  
Ground Penetrating ◽  
Gravel Road

Abstract. Multi-channel ground-penetrating radar (GPR) was applied at a permafrost site on the Tibetan Plateau to investigate the influence of surface properties and soil texture on the late-summer thaw depth and average soil moisture content of the active layer. Measurements were conducted on an approximately 85 × 60 m2 sized area with surface and soil textural properties that ranged from medium to coarse textured bare soil to finer textured, sparsely vegetated areas covered with fine, wind blown sand, and it included the bed of a gravel road. The survey allowed a clear differentiation of the various units. It showed (i) a shallow thaw depth and low average soil moisture content below the sand-covered, vegetated area, (ii) an intermediate thaw depth and high average soil moisture content along the gravel road, and (iii) an intermediate to deep thaw depth and low to intermediate average soil moisture content in the bare soil terrain. From our measurements, we found hypotheses for the permafrost processes at this site leading to the observed late-summer thaw depth and soil moisture conditions. The study clearly indicates the complicated interactions between surface and subsurface state variables and processes in this environment. Multi-channel GPR is an operational technology to efficiently study such a system at scales varying from a few meters to a few kilometers.

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