FDTD simulation of the GPR signal for effective inspection of pavement damages

Abstract

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is a wide ranging non-destructive tool used in many fields of application including effective pavement engineering surveys. Despite the high potential and the consolidated results obtained over the past decades, pavement distress manuals based on visual inspections are still widely used, so that only the effects and not the causes of faults are generally considered. In such context, simulation can represent an effective solution for supporting engineers and decision-makers in understanding the deep responses of both revealed and unrevealed damages. In this study, the use of FDTD simulation of the GPR signal is analyzed by simulating three different types of flexible pavement at two different center frequencies of investigation commonly used for road surveys. Comparisons with the undisturbed modelled pavement sections are carried out showing promising agreements with theoretical expectations, and good chances for detecting the shape of damages are demonstrated

A signal processing methodology for assessing the performance of ASTM standard test methods for GPR systems

“…To cite a few, we can mention the evaluation of layer thicknesses [44] and subsurface moisture [45,46], the assessment of damage conditions in hot-mix asphalt (HMA) layers [47], load-bearing layers and subgrade soils [48][49][50][51], the inspection of concrete structures [52,53]. New frontiers on the use of GPR in pavement engineering have been recently tackled on the possibility to infer the strength and deformation properties of road pavements and materials from their electromagnetic characteristics [54,55] and towards the simulation of the GPR signal with respect to typical pavement faults [56].…”

GPR Applications Across Engineering and Geosciences Disciplines in Italy: A Review

“…The GPR system showed a very high productivity and a good effectiveness in detecting several causes of pavement damages. Tosti and Umiliaco [81] and Benedetto et al [82] investigated the possibility of simulating different types of pavement damages. The authors performed finite-difference timedomain (FDTD) simulations of the GPR signal on three different types of flexible pavement using two central frequencies of investigation, i.e., 600 MHz and 1600 MHz, commonly employed in road surveys.…”

“…Regular-and irregularshaped faults within hot-mix asphalt (HMA) layers and at the base-subbase interface, as well as potholes on the surface were here simulated by the GprMax2D numerical simulator [83]. Much more recently, Tosti et al [82] proposed a promising semi-empirical amplitude-based model for inferring the mechanical properties of road pavements and materials from their dielectric characteristics. For calibrating the model, the authors employed ground-truth data arising from the use of a light falling weight deflectometer (LFWD).…”

Prediction of rutting evolution in flexible pavement life cycle at the road network scale using an air-launched ground-penetrating radar system

“…Important efforts have been also devoted to the evaluation of the volumetric water content within the whole pavement structure [22], [23] and, more recently, to the assessment of clay content in load-bearing layers [24]- [26]. In addition, more recent efforts have been addressed to evaluate the strength and deformation properties of road pavements and materials [27], [28], and towards the GPR-based simulation of pavement faults [29].…”