A scale model for studying ground penetrating radars

A scale model developed for experimentally studying ground penetrating radars is described. The model is one-third full size and is used with transient signals that have significant frequency content within the range 150 MHz to 1.5 GHz. A unique feature is that the soil in the model is represented by an emulsion, which is mixture of mineral oil, saline solution, and a stabilizing agent. This emulsion is a scale model for red clay soil; it matches the electrical parameters of the clay, including the dispersion in the conductivity, over a ten-to-one frequency range. Typical results measured with the model are discussed. These include the measurement of the electric field transmitted by the radar into the soil and the measurement of radar signatures for pipes of various composition buried in the ground.<
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