Abstract
The design and testing of suitable GPR antennas to be used in the field is both an arduous and challenging task. Presented here is a watertank testing facility incorporating a method of measuring gain and impedance of scaled-down models of prospective GPR antennas. A vertical ground plane is placed in a watertank measuring 1200mm×600mm×600mm. A monopole version of the test antenna is connected to a 150mm square plate which fits exactly into the ground plane. Underwater and air probes are placed in a semi-circular fashion on the vertical conducting ground plane around the square plate at radii of 150mm and 300mm respectively. Results are presented as gain and impedance plots for a monopole test antenna with two different water levels; Omm and 5mm below the base of the test antenna. Results for a salty solution and Isopropylalcohol dielectrically loaded, cavity backed, slot bowtie antenna are also given. The results show the sudden change in electrical length that occurs near a half-space surface, lateral wave phenomena as an air gap appears between the antenna's base and the water's surface as well as improved fractional bandwidth through dielectric loading.
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