Application of georadars for detecting subsurface defects in layers of non-rigid road pavements

Abstract

The relevance of the problem under consideration is a consequence of the high cost of classical methods of pavement inspection. At the same time, the use of modern pulse georadars allows to ensure a relatively low cost of monitoring the current state of highways, since it allows to obtain georadar data when a laboratory vehicle is moving at the speed of a traffic flow. This minimizes the role of costly and time-consuming operations such as coring or cutting. The purpose of this work is to improve the methods for obtaining primary GPR data, which were previously proposed by the authors to improve the accuracy and reliability of the results of processing pulsed GPR signals. Materials and methods. When processing model and experimental data, first of all, modern theoretical methods of processing pulse signals from ground penetrating radars, as well as methods of computer modeling, were used. Results. Based on the analysis of the factors that determine the key features of GPR signals, a signal calibration method has been proposed, which makes it possible to increase the reliability of detecting such defects in layers of non-rigid road pavement made of monolithic materials, such as loss of interlayer adhesion, or identification of thin layers from an electrophysical point of view in multilayer media. Conclusions. Combining the signal calibration method together with the previously proposed approach to detecting the loss of interlayer adhesion and the performed numerical simulation made it possible to increase the reliability of the procedure for non-destructive testing of road pavements and other building structures. During the work, laboratory experiments were performed on model structures. The analysis of the obtained data was performed using the developed software GeoVizy.