The application of finite-difference time-domain modelling for the assessment of GPR in magnetically lossy materials

Numerical modelling has recently established itself as an important, near-surface GPR interpretation tool with the finite-difference, time-domain (FDTD) method becoming one of the most popular techniques. Robust, flexible and accurate, the FDTD technique is capable of simulating GPR wave propagation in complex, three-dimensional, heterogeneous, lossy, subsurface environments to a high degree of realism. Unfortunately, many of the current FDTD methods still consider the subsurface materials as being ‘non magnetic’ and, as such, do not include the propagation and loss effects associated with magnetic materials (e.g., basic igneous rocks, iron-rich sands, corroded steel reinforced concrete, smelting wastes, etc). For magnetically lossy materials, the inclusion of a complex magnetic permeability into the FDTD scheme can result in smeared or ‘fuzzy’ interface problems, increased computational demand and equation-level coding changes. Therefore, it is prudent to describe the magnetically derived loss and propagation characteristics in a more generic manner where the ‘electric’ (e.g., permittivity and conductivity) properties of the material incorporate the magnetic loss effects explicitly. In this paper, we present a “generalised complex effective permittivity” approach to the FDTD material descriptors that allows for the true loss and propagation characteristics of the magnetic materials to modelled fully, regardless of their individual magnetic or electric field relaxation mechanisms. In doing so, we are able to incorporate the lossy, dispersive effects directly into existing FDTD schemes without modification, additional error or increased computational demand. To demonstrate its application, a three-dimensional, 450 MHz, near-surface model of GPR data simulation over a rusty pipe has been included that illustrates how the FDTD modelling can be used to evaluate subtle changes in the spectral nature of the reflected signals. The modelling results show that, for favourable conditions, GPR techniques could be used to provide important, practical information on the assessment of pipeline corrosion and pre-failure conditions.