Application research of potential failure zone detection for seawall using ground penetrating radar

Abstract

The potential failure zone in a seawall is a hidden danger that requires exact and immediate detection. Of all the different geophysical exploration methods, ground penetrating radar (GPR) has proven to be the most effective, non-destructive, highly efficiency detection method. It has been successfully used to investigate the structure and condition of many seawalls in Eastern China. In this study, GPR investigation was performed as part of a seawall integrity assessment for a maintenance plan. GPR data were collected along the seawall crest and the inner slope with the central frequency of 100 MHz and 400 MHz. Traditional drilling was also performed to explore the main structural layers of the seawall. Combined with the drilling investigation results, the GPR results reveal the distribution of heterogeneous areas, gaps and loose zones in the seawall. It must be noted that GPR interpretation results are consistent with visual observation.