AbstractsEngineering

Development of a cavity backed bowtie antenna with dielectric matching for ground penetrating radar

by Max (Max Lariviere) Birch




Institution: Stellenbosch University
Department: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Degree: MScEng
Year: 2001
Keywords: Electronic engineering
Record ID: 1451386
Full text PDF: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/52186


Abstract

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: An antenna for ground level deployed Ground Penetrating Radar applications is presented. The antenna is matched to the ground via a low impedance dielectric matching section improving the radiation pattern and input impedance characteristics. A bowtie antenna was used for the design with the edges rounded to stabilize the resonant frequency. The radiation pattern was focused to the one side of the antenna for ground penetration using a non-absorptive metallic cylindrical air filled cavity. Edge reflections from the antenna were reduced by means of discrete resistor terminations between the antenna and the cavity. A wire equivalent of the solid metallic antenna was investigated giving similar characteristics to that of the solid antenna. The radiation pattern deformation arising from transmitting a wave from an antenna in air into the ground due to the impedance mismatch was investigated. This was overcome with the use of a polypropylene dielectric slab inserted between the antenna and the ground. Together with improving the radiation pattern the antenna was less sensitive to ground parameter variations and to an air gap introduced between the slab and the ground. This was implemented as a wheel mounted system with adjustable height settings depending on the terrain. A pair of mounted antennas was constructed to be tested on an existing bistatic Stepped Frequency Continuous Wave radar operating in the 50-400 MHz band developed by the University of Cape Town. This antenna is seen as providing a solution to the problem of coupling an antenna to a low wave impedance medium such as ground. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Antenne word vir Grond Penetrerende Radar toepassings voorgestel. Dit is spesifiek ontwikkel vir oppervlak ontplooide stelsels ontwerp. Die antenne is aangepas tot die grond deur middel van 'n diëlektriese aanpassingseksie wat die starlingspatroon en intree-impedansie karakteristieke verbeter. Die antenne is tot die grond toe aangepas deur middel van 'n diëlektriese aanpassingseksie wat die starlingspatroon en intree-impedansie karakteristieke verbeter. 'n Strikdas antenne was gebruik vir die ontwerp, met die kante gerond om die resonante freqwensie te stabiliseer. Om die stralingspatroon van die antenne na een kant toe te fokus was 'n nie-absorbeerede metaleiese, luggevulde, silindriese holte daaragter geplaas om die energie vorentoe te weerkaats. Weerkaatsings van die rand van die antenne word onderdruk met behulp van koppelende weerstande tussen die antenne en die holte. A draad ekwivalent van die antenne was ook ondersoek met goeie ooreenstemming met die soliede strikdas. Die impedansie wanaanpassing wat ontstaan as 'n antenne wat in lug is, in die grond in straal veroorsaak dat die stralingspatroon van die antenne vervorm word. Dit was gevind dat deur 'n aanpassings blad van 'n diëlektriese materiaal, naamlik polipropileen, gebruik te maak tussen die antenne en die grond dat dit die probleem oplos. Saam met dit was gevind dat die antenne minder …