The inspection of retaining walls using GPR

In hilly regions, retaining walls along roads, motorways and railway lines are numerous. In some cases the knowledge of the details of the construction is limited. If rehabilitation work becomes necessary, a detailed knowledge of the construction is desirable for the improved planning of maintenance and repair. This paper describes the application of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) for the inspection of retaining walls. The work was carried out in two steps. First, an investigation was carried out on large retaining walls at a Swiss motorway within the framework of a service contract. This included the development of an apparatus enabling high precision positioning of the antennas on the walls. Second, a pilot study was performed on a smaller wall with optimized acquisition and processing parameters. This included the use of antennas with different orientations and the fusion of the two corresponding datasets as well as true 3-D data processing. This paper describes the approaches to data acquisition and processing in the form of the two case studies. Results from different acquisition and processing strategies are compared and the benefits and limits are discussed.     

Resolution of GPR bowtie antennas: An experimental approach

Since target reflections directly depend on the emitted pulse characteristics, a key factor for carrying out a successful GPR survey is to know as much as possible about the transmission features of the antennas used. This information is very important in order to choose the right antennas and set the appropriate configuration parameters for a specific survey. With this in mind this paper deals with the development of a set of laboratory experiments on the resolution capabilities of three bowtie antennas at frequencies of 500, 800 and 1000 MHz. Results from these measurements give a first estimation of the resolution of the antennas under test, showing the advantage of performing experiments rather than relying only on theoretical assumptions. The results are also expressed in terms of the central wavelength for each antenna and compared with some theoretical estimations proposed in the specialized bibliography.     

Cylindrical-wave approach for the electromagnetic scattering problem by buried two-dimensional objects

A spectral-domain method, for the solution of the two-dimensional electromagnetic plane-wave scattering by a finite set of perfectly-conducting or dielectric cylinders buried in a dielectric half-space, has been developed. The scattered field is represented in terms of a superposition of cylindrical waves, and use is made of the plane-wave spectrum to take into account the reflection and transmission of such waves by the interface. The problem is solved for both the near- and the far-field regions, for TM and TE polarizations. In this work we briefly resume the theoretical basis of our approach. For configurations in which more obstacles are buried in the ground, and they are near to one another, we give details about the convergence rate of our method, and about the properties of our algorithms for the integration of cylindrical functions. With our technique it is possible to simulate two-dimensional buried obstacles of general shape, by means of a suitable set of circular-section cylinders: in this paper we show preliminary results of simulations carried out using arrays of same-radius circular cylinders, and of different-radius circular cylinders.     

Implementation of ADI-FDTD subgrids in ground penetrating radar FDTD models

Realistic numerical modeling of ground penetrating radar (GPR) using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method could greatly benefit from the implementation of subgrids – supporting finer spatial resolution – into the conventional FDTD mesh. This is particularly important, when parts of the computational domain need to be modeled in detail or when there are features or regions in the overall computational mesh with values of high dielectric constant supporting propagation of waves at very short wavelengths. A scheme that simplifies the process of implementing these subgrids into the traditional FDTD method is presented. This scheme is based on the combination of the standard FDTD method and the unconditionally stable alternating-direction implicit (ADI) FDTD technique. Because ADI-FDTD is unconditionally stable its time-step can be set to any value that facilitates the accurate calculation of the fields. By doing so, the two grids can efficiently communicate information across their boundary without requiring to use a costly time-interpolation scheme. This paper discusses the performance of ADI-FDTD subgrids when implemented into the traditional FDTD method, using different communication schemes for the information exchange at the boundary of the two grids. The developed algorithm, can handle cases where the subgrid crosses dielectrically inhomogeneous media. In addition, results from the comparison between the proposed scheme and a commonly employed purely FDTD subgridding technique are presented.     

Anatomy of a subaqueous ice-contact fan and delta complex, Middle Pleistocene, North-west Germany

This paper presents a detailed analysis of the high‐resolution facies architecture of the Middle Pleistocene Porta subaqueous ice‐contact fan and delta complex, deposited on the northern margin of glacial Lake Weser (North‐west Germany). A total of 10 sand and gravel pits and more than 100 wells were examined to document the complex facies architecture. The field study was supplemented with a ground‐penetrating radar survey and a shear‐wave seismic survey. All collected sedimentological and geophysical data were integrated into a high‐resolution three‐dimensional geological model for reconstructing the spatial distribution of facies associations. The Porta subaqueous fan and delta complex consist of three fan bodies deposited on a flat lake‐bottom surface at the margin of a retreating ice lobe. The northernmost fan complex is up to 55 m thick, 6·2 km wide and 6·5 km long. The incipient fan deposition is characterized by high‐energy flows of a plane‐wall jet. Very coarse‐grained, highly scoured jet‐efflux deposits with an elongate plan shape indicate a high Froude number, probably >5. These jet‐efflux sediments are deposited in front of a large ～3·2 km long, up to 1·2 km wide, and up to 25 m deep flute‐like scour, indicating the most proximal erosion and bypass area of the jet that widens and deepens with distance downstream to the region of maximum turbulence (approximately five times the conduit diameter). Evidence for subsequent flow splitting is given by the presence of two marginal gravel fan lobes, deposited in front of 1·3 to 2·5 km long flute‐like scours, that are 0·8 to 1 km wide and 7 to 20 m deep. In response to continued aggradation, small jets developed at the periphery of these bar‐like deposits and filled in the low areas adjacent to the original superelevated regions, locally raising the depositional surface and characterized by large‐scale trough cross‐stratified sand and pebbly sand. The incision of an up to 1·2 km wide and up to 35 m deep channel into the evolving fan is attributed to a catastrophic drainage event, probably related to a lake outburst and lake‐level fall in the range of 40 to 60 m. At the mouth of this channel, highly scoured jet‐efflux deposits formed under hydraulic‐jump conditions during flow expansion. Subsequently, Gilbert‐type deltas formed on the truncated fan margin, recording a second lake‐level drop in the range of 30 to 40 m. These catastrophic lake‐level falls were probably caused by rapid ice‐lobe retreat controlled by the convex‐up bottom topography of the ice valley.     

西藏阿里地区嘎尼冰川厚度特征及冰储量估算

冰川厚度和冰下地形是冰川学研究中相当宝贵的数据。2018年5月,利用探地雷达（GPR）对西藏阿里地区喀喇昆仑山脉南部的嘎尼冰川进行了冰川厚度测量。基于ArcGIS中的地统计分析模块,运用Kriging插值方法对冰川非测厚区进行插值计算,结合差分GPS数据、遥感影像数据和地形数据,分析了嘎尼冰川横、纵剖面厚度特征,绘制了冰川冰下地形图和冰川厚度分布图,并估算了该冰川冰储量。结果表明：嘎尼冰川冰下地形存在空间差异,东支冰下地形起伏较大,西支相对平缓,冰川作用以下蚀作用为主,冰川面积为4.31 km²,平均厚度51.2 m,最大厚度出现在东支海拔5 970 m处,约为136.6 m,冰储量为0.218 km³。     

阵列式探地雷达信号极化场特征

阵列式观测是探地雷达系统研制和新型探测方法的一个重要发展趋势,而同形多源并发地下目标响应特征分析成为系统研制和数据处理研究的基础和前提。阵列式天线的多源并发信号及目标反射信号存在复杂的极化特性,但同时也包含更多目标特征的响应信息。本文针对基于似平面波探地雷达系统,分析了目标体在极化平面波照射下的响应特征,从多极化信号角度分析典型地下目标体形态特征;并采用时域有限差分正演分析方法,通过对阵列天线接收到的数据沿时间轴进行积分来获得目标在地表投影的分布情况,分析了一维及二维分布的收发天线阵列对目标的检测。研究成果表明,多极化综合特征分析能够有效改善目标检测的稳定性,提高目标响应信号的信噪比,减弱天线方向图和目标散射截面闪烁对数据剖面的影响,降低数据处理和解释的难度。     

Transverse architecture of lahar terraces,inferred from radargrams: preliminary results from Semeru Volcano,Indonesia

Semeru Volcano is the highest mountain of Java (Indonesia), and a vulcanian explosion occurs every 15 minutes on average, since 1967. Thus a constantly renewed stock of material and the heavy monsoon rainfall [3700 mm yr^?1 at 1500 m above sea level (a.s.l.)] provide a perfect setting for the study of lahars and their deposits. Hence, we examined the architecture of lahars' terraces 9·5 km from the summit in the Curah Lengkong Valley. We first used ground penetrating radar (GPR) over vertical exposures of the lahars cut‐bank terraces. This allowed us to better understand transversal radargrams across terraces, which are not visually accessible in the field. Preliminary results from a single radargram are very instructive, since (1) they prove that the lateral architecture does not correspond to that observed from banks only; (2) we could observe the presence of lenses and stratigraphic discontinuities; (3) the setting of the various units can also help reconstruct deposition processes and the chronology of different units. In order to finalize these preliminary results, we however need to perform multiple GPR radargrams and provide a complete set of results. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于全波形反演的探地雷达数据逆时偏移成像

逆时偏移成像(RTM)常用来处理复杂速度模型,包括陡倾角及横向速度变化剧烈的模型.与常规偏移成像方法(如Kirchhoff偏移)相比,逆时偏移成像能提供更好的偏移成像结果,近些年逆时偏移成像越来越广泛地应用到勘探地震中,它逐渐成为石油地震勘探中的一种行业标准.电磁波和弹性波在动力学和运动学上存在相似性,故本文开发了基于麦克斯韦方程组的电磁波逆时偏移成像算法,并将其应用到探地雷达数据处理中.时间域有限差分(FDTD)用于模拟电磁波正向和逆向传播过程,互相关成像条件用于获得最终偏移结果.逆时偏移成像算法中,偏移成像结果受初始模型影响较大,而其中决定电磁波传播速度的介电常数的影响尤为重要.本文基于时间域全波形反演(FWI)算法反演获得了更为精确的地下介电常数模型,并将其反演结果作为逆时偏移成像的初始介电常数模型.为了验证此算法的有效性,首先构建了一个复杂地质结构模型,合成了共偏移距及共炮点探地雷达数据,分别应用常规Kirchhoff偏移算法及逆时偏移成像算法进行偏移处理,成像结果显示由逆时偏移成像算法得到的偏移结果与实际模型具有较高的一致性;此外本文在室内沙槽中进行了相关的物理模拟实验,采集了共偏移距及共炮点探地雷达数据,分别应用Kirchhoff和叠前逆时偏移成像算法进行处理,结果表明叠前逆时偏移成像在实际应用中能获得更好的成像效果.