Electromagnetic Finite-Element Modeling of Induction Effects for Buried Objects in Magnetic Soils

A frequency-based finite element (FE) framework has been developed to predict and understand the response of an electromagnetic induction (EMI) sensor due to buried targets. The EMI sensor is used to detect buried targets in magnetic nonconducting soils. The framework was verified with an analytical model that utilizes dipole approximations. The framework was then used to predict the electromagnetic (EM) response due to interrelated stimuli and properties. The results indicate that the sensor was not sensitive to small variations (0–200 mm) in the standoff height and lateral positions, and only showed a significant change in the response due to stand-off variations that were greater than 200 mm. This low sensitivity to minor variations in standoff height and lateral position signify that there are critical distances related to the EM response of buried objects. The response to different target conductivities and permeabilities was also investigated for steel and aluminum targets. The lower conductivity steel targets had EM responses, where the inductive limit was reached at higher frequencies than the higher conductivity aluminum targets. Variations in target permeabilities for steel showed that as permeabilities increased, the frequencies at which the inductive limit was reached also increased. This verified predictive approach can provide a methodology to characterize the EM response of buried objects for a broad class of buried object EM properties, geometries, and input stimuli.