3-D Discontinuous Galerkin Time-Domain Method for GPR Antennas and Scenarios Modeling
Résumé
The use of Ground-Penetration Radar (GPR) in an extended number of applications for many years is well known nevertheless it still needs much development either numerical or experimental. This is illustrated by the COST Action TU1208 \enquote{Civil Engineering Application of Ground Penetrating Radar} which \enquote{focuses on the exchange of scientific-technical knowledge and experience of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) techniques in Civil Engineering (CE) [\ldots] within the frame of a unique approach based on the integrated contribution of University researchers, software developers, geophysics experts, Non-Destructive Testing equipment designers and producers, and users from private companies and public agencies.}In this work, a Discontinuous Galerkin Time-Domain (DGTD) method is used to model some printed antennas as widely used for GPR and study a complete electromagnetic scenario of GPR system. Many different numerical methods are implemented in time domain for GPR studies, such as Finite Element Method (FEM) and Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD). Each of these methods has several pros and cons. The DGTD is a powerful approach for solving conservative form of PDE combining FEM and FVM (Finite Volume Method) tools. Its ability, efficiency and accuracy in electromagnetic fields for antenna modeling are recently proved notably on simulation of GPR system with ideal point sources. Its capability to deal with unstructured meshes provides a significant interest. Our approach is validated by comparison with results provided by a commercial software (CST Microwave Studio) and with experimental data acquired in a controlled laboratory experiment. The scenario of GPR system is composed of a bistatic couple of antennas, a sandbox and one or several metallic/dielectric objects buried in it. The antennas are moved along a line while measuring to obtain the time domain response and radargram. The experimental data are obtained through the measurement carried out in the same configuration in the anechoic chamber. A good agreement between the results of DGTD, CST and measurements is obtained. Comparison of different radargrams (DGTD, CST, measurement) of the complete scenario validates the DGTD modeling. Such quantitative comparisons are also achieved by using the time- and frequency-domain response signals. From such analysis the DGTD method is given to be efficient and accurate for modeling both GPR antennas and GPR scenarios.