08. NUMERICAL TECHNIQUES 1 Time-Domain Modeling of Radar Assessment of Concrete: a Parametric Study

Abstract — We are investigating the radar as a non-destructive technique to detect early-stage flaws and reinforcement in concrete structures. In this paper, we simulate the ground-penetrating radar (GPR) assessment of concrete structures using three-dimensional (3D) finite-difference time-domain (FDTD). The discussion focuses on the evaluation of the performance of GPR in assessing dispersive and heterogeneous models of concrete structures. The ability to detect flaws and reinforce-ment using bow-tie antennas for transmitting and receiving is investigated. Simulations are carried out to examine the influence of dispersion and heterogeneity on GPR measurements and its influence on spatial dispersion using various types of concrete characterized by low/high-performance, and ramdonly created heterogeneity. Index Terms — FDTD, GPR, Non-destructive testing. I