The nondestructive evaluation (NDE) inspection for building and bridge structures has attracted a lot of attentions for the fundamental research and the sensor system development. In this paper, development of a distant subsurface imaging radar is reported. Theoretical background of subsurface radar imaging is first provided. Experimental laboratory measurements using radar signals in the frequency range of 1-18 GHz were conducted. From the theoretical analysis and the initial experimental results on a laboratory reinforced concrete specimens, it is proved that the proposed subsurface imaging radar system can detect the location of steel reinforcement inside a concrete cylinder and identify the material property of panel specimens. Range-dependent attenuation of radar signals is experimentally studied using different materials. Findings are reported in the summary.

Date Published: 16 April 2013
PDF: 8 pages
Proc. SPIE 8694, Nondestructive Characterization for Composite Materials, Aerospace Engineering, Civil Infrastructure, and Homeland Security 2013, 86940I (16 April 2013); doi: 10.1117/12.2010120

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8694:
Nondestructive Characterization for Composite Materials, Aerospace Engineering, Civil Infrastructure, and Homeland Security 2013
Tzu Yang Yu, Editor(s)