Numerical modeling development for characterizing complex GPR problems

Abstract

Finite Differencing Time Domain (FDTD) modeling technique was developed as a tool to study GPR problem that could be very complex due to the antenna design, inhomogeneous soil and varieties of target types. The broadband, fully polarimetric horn-fed bowtie (HFB) antenna design (Chen, 1 997) was modeled as an example. Feeding cables, 3D antenna structure and tapered resistive loading were included. Calculated characteristics of the electrical properties of the HFB antenna in the entire 10 - 800 MHz range was obtained. Various technical issues involved in numerical modeling will be discussed.