Resistively loaded 3D printed antenna for GPR applications

The resistively loaded 3D printed antenna demonstrates that commercially available thermoplastic filament which incorporates carbon particles can be used to print the radiating element directly, without any need to coat it with metal. Antennas used for Ground Penetrating Radar are generally resistively loaded in order to minimise late-time ringing which would obscure the returns from targets. Therefore radiation efficiency is not expected to be high. Wideband operation and good directivity are desirable characteristics of air-coupled GPR antennas, as realised here using a low cost fused filament 3D printer.