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Rolled Dipole Antenna for Low-resolution GPR

Conference Paper  in  PIERS Online · January 2007

DOI: 10.2529/PIERS060906104146

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 PIERS ONLINE, VOL. 3, NO. 7, 2007 1107

Rolled Dipole Antenna for Low-resolution GPR

A. A. Lestari1,2 , D. Yulian3 , A. B. Suksmono1,4 , E. Bharata1,4

A. G. Yarovoy2 , and L. P. Ligthart2
1
International Research Centre for Telecom and Radar–Indonesian Branch (IRCTR-IB), Indonesia
2
International Research Centre for Telecom and Radar (IRCTR)–TU Delft, The Netherlands
3
Radar and Communication Systems (RCS), Indonesia
4
Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Indonesia

Abstract— In this paper a rolled dipole antenna for low-resolution impulse ground penetrating
radar (GPR) is theoretically investigated. The antenna is designed for transmission of monocycle
pulses with duration of 5 ns (200 MHz central frequency) suitable for low-resolution GPR appli-
cations. The dipole is rolled to considerably reduce it length and resistive loading with Wu-King
profile is applied for suppression of late-time ringing important for GPR. Using NEC-2 as the
numerical tool it is shown that the antenna radiates the pulse with no late-time ringing. Further-
more, by rolling the wires the antenna length is reduced by a factor of 4 with no evident negative
impact on the antenna’s characteristics.
DOI: 10.2529/PIERS060906104146

1. INTRODUCTION
Ground penetrating radar (GPR) with low resolution is useful for detection of large buried objects
or structures such as subsurface caves, bunkers and rivers or canals. Low-resolution GPR generally
transmits relatively long transient pulses with central frequency of 200 MHz or lower for obtaining
low down-range resolution and sufficient penetration depth required for detecting large subsurface
structures. Consequently, large antennas are normally needed for efficient transmission of those
pulses. If the dimensions of the antennas are reduced, generally one suffers from degraded efficiency
and increased late-time ringing as a result of smaller antenna bandwidth. Minimal late-time ringing
is important to avoid masking of radar returns when the targets are shallowly buried. In this paper
we investigate a method to substantially reduce the length of a dipole antenna for low-resolution
GPR by rolling the wires. Resistive loading with Wu-King profile is then applied to eliminate
late-time ringing. Similar approach has been used in [1] to increase antenna bandwidth by slightly
rolling the edges of a V-dipole antenna for high-resolution GPR. Here, nearly the whole length of
the dipole is rolled resulting in a spiral-like shape.

2. ANTENNA DESIGN
In this work the antenna is designed for excitation with monocycle pulses with duration of 5 ns
(having a central frequency of 200 MHz) suitable for low-resolution GPR applications. The geom-
etry of the proposed rolled dipole antenna is shown in Figure 1. The total length of the wire is
296 cm and by rolling the wire as shown in the figure the antenna length is reduced by a factor of
nearly 4, resulting in antenna length of only 75 cm. The fraction of the wires starting from 20 cm
from the feed point is resistively loaded with resistors according to the Wu-King profile. In each
arm of the dipole we employ 65 resistors with 1 cm separation. This number of resistors should
be sufficient for proper implementation of the Wu-King profile. The first resistor near the feed
point has a value of 200 Ω and at the same time also functions as a secondary source of radiation
due to the discontinuity it introduces. It has been demonstrated √ in [2] that when the distance
between the feed point and the first resistor is chosen to be c/(4fc εrs ), where c is the speed of
light, fc is the central frequency of the exciting pulse and εrs is the relative permittivity of the
substrate, in the broadside direction of the antenna radiation from the secondary source combines
constructively with radiation from the feed point, resulting in significant increase in the amplitude
of the transmitted pulses.
 PIERS ONLINE, VOL. 3, NO. 7, 2007 1108

yx x

Feed point

Figure 1: Geometry of the rolled dipole. The gaps are the locations of resistors for antenna loading. In
practice the resistors are soldered across the gaps. The total length of the wire is 296 cm while the length
of the rolled dipole is 75 cm, giving a reduction factor of nearly 4. Its height is 31.5 cm. The dipole will be
realized as a printed antenna on an FR-4 substrate.

3. SIMULATIONS
The proposed design shown in Figure 1 will be realized as a printed antenna on an FR-4 substrate.
By means of the equivalent radius formula introduced in [3] the antenna structure can be approx-
imated with thin wires, for which the one-dimensional integral equation method is well-suited to
perform numerical analysis. Therefore, the well-known NEC-2 code is here employed. Influence of
the substrate is taken into account by scaling up the antenna dimensions by a factor of the square
root of the substrate’s relative permittivity. Time-domain responses of the antenna are obtained
by performing frequency sweep over the spectrum of the 5-ns monocycle pulse followed by inverse
FFT operation. The frequency sweep was performed from 1 MHz to 1 GHz with 1 MHz step. In
Figure 2 the waveform and spectrum of the pulse are presented.
1 0
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

0.8 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
-10 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
0.6 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
Normalized Amplitude

0.4 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
-20 − −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
Magnitude (dB)

0.2 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
0− −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−− -30 − −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
-0.2 − −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
-40 − −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
-0.4 − −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
-0.6 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
-50 − −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
-0.8 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
-1 -60
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
Time (ns) Frequency (GHz)
( a) (b)

Figure 2: Exciting pulse: monocycle with duration of 5 ns. (a) waveform, (b) spectrum.

Transmit waveforms of the antenna have been computed and the near-field waveforms are plotted
in Figure 3. The near-field waveforms of the antenna without and with loading are given in
Figures 3(a) and 3(b), respectively. It is shown that when the antenna is not loaded the waveform
is dominated by internal reflections as expected. We note that in the near-field region the first
reflection from the antenna ends is still clearly separated from the main pulse radiated from the feed
point. When resistive loading with Wu-King profile is applied, it is demonstrated in Figure 3(b) that
 PIERS ONLINE, VOL. 3, NO. 7, 2007 1109

all reflections are eliminated, leaving the main pulse only. In the far-field region the main pulse and
the first end reflection are not anymore separable as observed in Figure 4(a). When resistive loading
with Wu-King profile is applied, similarly internal reflections are eliminated, leaving the main pulse
with the shape of a triplet as seen in Figure 4(b). Furthermore, in Figure 5 we demonstrate that the
influence of the rolled part of the wires on transmit waveforms is noticeable only in the near-field
region.
-3 -4
x 10 x 10

1
5
0.8
4
0.6
3
0.4

Electric Field (V/m)

Electric Field (V/m)

0.2 1

0 0

-0.2 -1

-0.4 -2

-3
-0.6
-4
-0.8
-5
-1

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Time (ns) Time (ns)
( a) ( b)

Figure 3: Near-field transmit waveforms of the rolled dipole in free space: (a) without loading, (b) with
loading (Wu-King profile). Observation point is at a distance of 50 cm in the broadside direction from the
antenna.

-4 -5
x 10 x 10
1.5 5

4
1
3

2
Electric Field (V/m)
Electric Field (V/m)

0.5
1

0 0

-1
-0.5
-2

-3
-1
-4

-1.5 -5
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Time (ns) Time (ns)
( a) ( b)

Figure 4: Far-field transmit waveforms of the rolled dipole in free space: (a) without loading, (b) with loading
(Wu-King profile). Observation point is at a distance of 5 m in the broadside direction from the antenna.

The computed input impedance of the antenna is presented in Figure 6. It is demonstrated that
the resonance behavior seen in Figure 6(a) is suppressed by the loading. Moreover, we observe in
Figure 6(b) that soil has insignificant impact on the input impedance when the antenna is elevated
at least 10 cm as generally is the case in real low-resolution GPR surveys.
Currently we are working on feeding and impedance matching techniques for the proposed
antenna. In addition, an optimal shield for the antenna is being designed. These works and
experimental verifications of the antenna in laboratory and field conditions will be reported in our
future papers.
 PIERS ONLINE, VOL. 3, NO. 7, 2007 1110

-5 View publication stats -4

x 10 x 10
5 2

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
4 − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − −Upward
− − − −(+z)
−−− 1.5 − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − −Upward
− − − −(+z)
−−−
Downward (-z) Downward (-z)
3 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−− 1 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
2 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

Electric Field (V/m)

Electric Field (V/m)

0.5 − −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
1 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
0− −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
0− −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
-0.5 − −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
-1 − −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
-1 − −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
-2 − −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
-1.5 − −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
-3 − −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
-4 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−− -2 − −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

-5 -2.5
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Time (ns) Time (ns)
(a ) (b)

Figure 5: (a) Far-field and (b) near-field waveforms transmitted by the rolled dipole in the broadside direction,
downwards (into the ground) and upwards (into the air).

1000 1000
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
800 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−− 800 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
Resistance
600 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−− 600 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
Resistance
Input Impedance (Ohms)

Input Impedance (Ohms)

400 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−− 400 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

200 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−− 200 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
0 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−− 0 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
-200 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−− -200 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
-400 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−− -400 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
Reactance
-600 −−−−−−−−−−−−−− − Reactance
−−−−−− −−−−−−− -600 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
Free Space
-800 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−− -800 − − − − ε−r =−9− σ
− − − − − − − − − − − − Ground: − =− 0.01
−−− S/m
−−−−
Antenna elevation = 10 cm
-1000 -1000
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500
Frequency (MHz) Frequency (MHz)
( a) (b)

Figure 6: Free-space input impedance of the rolled dipole: (a) without loading, (b) with loading (Wu-King
profile). In (b) the input impedance of the rolled dipole situated 10 cm above a lossy soil is also shown, with
the soil parameters: εr = 9, σ = 0.01 S/m.

REFERENCES
1. Morrow, I. L., J. Persijn, and P. van Genderen, “Rolled edge ultra-wideband dipole antenna
for GPR application,” IEEE APS Int. Symp. Digest, Vol. 3, 484–487, 2002.
2. Lestari, A. A., A. G. Yarovoy, and L. P. Ligthart, “RC loaded bow-tie antenna for improved
pulse radiation,” IEEE Trans. Antennas Propagat., Vol. 52, No. 10, 2555–2563, Oct. 2004.
3. Butler, C. M., “The equivalent radius of a narrow conducting strip,” IEEE Trans. Antennas
Propagat., Vol. 30, No. 4, 755–758, July 1982.