16th ASCE Engineering Mechanics Conference

July 16-18, 2003, University of Washington, Seattle

3D MICROWAVE IMAGING TECHNOLOGY USING ANTENNA ARRAY

FOR DAMAGE ASSESSMENT OF CONCRETE STRUCTURE
Yoo Jin Kim1, Associate Member ASCE,
Luis Jofre2, Franco De Flaviis3,
and Maria Q. Feng4, Associate Member ASCE
ABSTRACT
Various nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques have been studied to locate steel rebars or dowels,
and to detect invisible damage such as voids and cracks inside concrete and debonding between rebars and
concrete caused by corrosions and earthquakes. In this study, 3-dimensional (3D) microwave imaging
technology was developed to detect such damage and to locate steel rebars or dowels. Extending their
earlier analytical work on 2D image reconstruction, the authors have developed an imaging algorithm with
visualization software for reconstructing a 3D volume image. This paper presents a numerical focusing
procedure, which allows the recovery of a 3D object from its scattered field. A multi-frequency technique
was applied in order to improve the quality of the reconstructed image. The effectiveness of the numerical
focusing and the multi-frequency techniques was demonstrated through numerical simulations.
Furthermore, innovative design of the antenna array is described, in which a hybrid approach for network
distribution was used.
Keywords: Microwave, Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE), 3D Imaging Technology, Damage

Detection
INTRODUCTION
The use of microwave for investigating the integrity of structural elements is becoming
established as a nondestructive evaluation method in civil engineering, especially for detection of
invisible damage and objects such as steel rebars or dowels. In the previous works (Feng et al.,
2002, Kim et al., 2002), the authors developed microwave surface imaging technology and
two-dimensional (2D) sub-surface imaging technology for the assessment of bonding condition
of FRP-jacketed concrete structures. In these studies, the locations and areas of the
voids/debonds between the FRP jacket and the concrete were successfully assessed and 2D
sub-surface reconstructed image showed the main features of the objects such as air void and
steel inside concrete.
1
2
3
4

Dept. of Civil & Environmental Eng., University of California, Irvine, CA 92697. E-mail: yook@uci.edu
Dept. of Signal Theory & Comm., Technical University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain. E-mail: luis.jofre@upc.es
Dept. of Electrical & Computer Eng., University of California, Irvine, CA 92697. E-mail: franco@uci.edu
Dept. of Civil & Environmental Eng., University of California, Irvine, CA 92697. E-mail: mfeng@uci.edu

In this study, three-dimensional microwave imaging technology was developed to detect such
damage and to locate steel rebars or dowels. Extending the earlier analytical and experimental
works on 2D image reconstruction, the authors have developed a 3D image reconstruction
algorithm with visualization program and designed an antenna array module, which will be a part
of whole antenna array. This paper presents the analytical procedure to reconstruct 3D volume
image from the scattered field using numerical bi-focusing operator. A multi-frequency
technique was applied in order to improve the quality of the reconstructed image. The
effectiveness of the use of bi-focusing operator and multi-frequency technique was demonstrated
through numerical simulation. Finally, the design of 44 antenna array module, which is a part
of whole antenna array, was introduced with modified multiplexing switching technique and
feeding network.
3D IMAGE RECONSTRUCTION ALGORITHM AND SIGNAL PROCESSING
Analytical Formulation
As illustrated in Fig. 1, the system consists of NkNl antenna elements forming a transmitting
array and NmNn antenna elements forming a receiving array. In the measurement, an NtNr
measurement matrix, where Nt is the total numbers of transmitting antenna elements and Nr is the
total numbers of receiving antenna elements, can be obtained as follows: for every selected
transmitting element, the receiving array is scanned obtaining an Nr-measurement column, then
the procedure is repeated for the rest of the Nt transmitting elements.
Following the electromagnetic compensation principle, the illumination of an object (defects
such as an air void) induces an equivalent electric current distribution, and this distribution makes
an electromagnetic image of the object (Girons et al., 1987). The reconstruction algorithm forms
an image by means of the synthesis of two focused arrays (transmitting and receiving arrays).
All the signals from the antenna elements of the arrays are weighted by a focusing operator so as
to be focused on a unique point. This can be achieved by a numerical treatment of the
measurement matrix, explained as follows.
The focusing operator can be obtained by taking an inverse of the field induced by a current
point source. It is well known that the electric fields of the point electric source are proportional
to the Greens function, e-jkr/r. Therefore, the incident field at ri(xi,yi,zi) when focusing from every
transmitting point rTkl(xTkl,yTkl,zTkl) on the reconstructing point rf(xf,yf,zf) can be expressed as
Ei ( xi , yi , zi ) =

Nl N k

ITkl ( x f , y f , z f )

l =1 k =1

jke rTkl ri

(1)

rTkl ri

where ITkl(xf,yf,zf), the focusing operator, is given by ITkl ( x f , y f , z f ) = rTkl r f

jke rTkl r f

Scattered field measured at rRmn(xRmn,yRmn,zRmn) of a defect placed at r0(x0,y0,z0) is

Es ( xRmn , yRmn , zRmn ) = Ei ( x0 , y0 , z0 ) I obj

jke rRmn r0

rRmn r0

(2)

where Iobj is a constant for every object containing its electromagnetic macroscopic
characteristics.
When focusing back the received field at rRmn(xRmn,yRmn,zRmn) on the interest point rf(xf,yf,zf),

electromagnetic image of Ef (xf,yf,zf) at rf (xf,yf,zf) can be expressed as

E f (x f , y f , z f ) =

Nn Nm

Es ( xRmn , yRmn , zRmn ) I Rmn ( x f , y f , z f )

n =1 m =1

(3)

where IRmn(xf,yf,zf), the focusing operator, is given by I Rmn ( x f , y f , z f ) = rRmn r f e

jke rRmn r f

Finally, all the processes can be grouped as follows:

No
jk |r r | N l

e e Rmn 0, p

I Rmn ( x f , y f , z f )
I

obj , p
| rRmn r0, p | l =1

n =1 m =1
p =1

Nn Nm

E f (x f , y f , z f ) =

Nk

ITkl ( x f , y f , z f )

k =1

jk |r r |
e e Tkl 0, p

| rTkl r0, p |

(4)

In addition to the reconstruction algorithm, the post-process program for displaying the
measurement and assessment results was developed. The post-process program makes the user
to identify the feature of an object more easily. The program, first, displays cut images at
several vertical locations, and then the user can pick one of the cut images to perform a detail
investigation. Also, the post-process program is integrated with the image reconstruction
algorithm, which makes it possible to carry out the on-site measurement and assessment within
several minutes at most. Figure 2 shows an example screen of the post-process program, in
which one of the cut images are magnified in another pop-up window.

(a) Several cut images along z-axis

(b) Magnified image at z=0mm level

Figure 2. Example screen of post-process program

Resolution of the System
The image reconstruction algorithm developed in the previous section was applied to the case
of two (transmitting and receiving) arrays each consisting of 128 (816) antennas, with the
frequency of 5.2 GHz, while the wavelength in concrete, e, is 25.06 mm. Numerical
simulations using analytical measurement data were conducted in order to verify the resolution
capability of the system. Two point-like objects were placed with the distance of 25.0 mm

along each axis at the center of the reconstructing volume. As shown in Fig. 3, the results
demonstrated that the system, due to the use of bi-focusing (focusing both the transmitting and
receiving arrays), is able to achieve a resolution in the order of the wavelength in the dielectric
medium, which is 25.0 mm at 5.2 GHz in concrete.

(a) X-direction

(b) Y-direction

(c) Z-direction

Figure 3. Resolution of the system (25mm) at 5.2GHz

Multi-Frequency Technique
In order to improve the quality of reconstructed image by reducing the background noises, a
narrow band multi-frequency technique was applied. In this technique, microwaves with several
frequencies near the designed illuminating frequency were sent from and received by the antenna
arrays. By averaging the images reconstructed from the waves of different frequencies,
background noise including the steel interference can be averaged out to improve the
signal-to-noise ratio. This technique has been used with some success for similar problems
(Pierri et al., 2000).
According to the frequency sweeping, both incident/scattered field and numerical focusing
operator become a function of frequency:
Ei ( xi , yi , zi )
Es ( xRmn , yRmn , zRmn )
E f (x f , y f , z f )

Ei ( xi , yi , zi , keN )
Es ( xRmn , yRmn , zRmn , keN )
E f ( x f , y f , z f , keN )

ITkl , Rmn ( x f , y f , z f )

ITkl , Rmn ( x f , y f , z f , keN )

(5)

where keN, the effective wavenumber at the Nth frequency, is given by

keN = k N r

Then, the electromagnetic image of Ef (xf,yf,zf) at rf (xf,yf,zf) can be expressed as

(6)

 I Rmn ( x f , y f , z f , keN )

jkeN |rRmn r0, p | Nl Nk

jkeN |rTkl r0, p | (7)
No
E f (x f , y f , z f ) =
e
e

I (x , y , z , k )
I obj , p

N =1 n =1 m =1
| rRmn r0, p | l =1 k =1 Tkl f f f eN | rTkl r0, p |
p =1

NFreq Nn N m

100

100

80

80

60

60

40

40

20

20

Y (mm)

Y (mm)

where NFreq is the number of frequency used.

The multi-frequency technique was applied to reconstruct the images of two point-like
objects separated 25.0mm, which is the wavelength (e) in concrete at 5.2GHz. Four
frequencies of 4.6, 4.8, 5.0, and 5.2GHz were used in this case. As shown in Fig. 3, the
background noise was successfully reduced with the images of the point like objects more clearly
reconstructed, when using multi-frequencies.

-20

-20

-40

-40

-60

-60

-80

-80

-100
-100 -80 -60 -40 -20

-100
-100 -80 -60 -40 -20

X (mm)

X (mm)

(a) Using single frequency

(b) Using multi frequencies

Figure 3: Improvement of image quality by the use of multi-frequency technique.

DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF SLOT ANTENNA ARRAY
Before making the whole antenna array, 44 antenna array was designed as a module of the
whole antenna array in order to investigate the switching and the feed network. The design of
the 44 antenna array can be directly expanded to the whole array, or can be a sub-module of the
whole array, i.e. the whole array consists of sixteen 44 modules. The illumination frequency
on a working medium of concrete (r = 5.3) was chosen as 5.2GHz, which is a trade-off between
the resolution and the penetration depth, and the type of single antenna element was determined
as a microstrip-fed single antenna. The structure of slot antenna is illustrated in Fig. 4(a). The
simulation and measurement results, as plotted in Fig. 4(b), are slightly different, but the
radiation at the illumination frequency of 5.2GHz is acceptable.
There were two main considerations in the design of large antenna array: switching each
antenna element and feed network to deliver the microwave from the feed to the antenna element.

In order to switch on/off active/inactive antenna elements, multiplexing technique with diode
switch was used. However, the signal cannot be fully transferred from the port to the end of
each antenna due to the losses at each diode (3dB/diode loss, which results 21dB accumulated
losses for 128 elements). In this study, multiplexing technique with some modifications was
used: instead of using diode switch at every junction, only 1 diode switch was used at the
entrance of every element avoiding the loss at diodes, and the feeding microstrip (or slot) was
modified to satisfy the matching condition at the port.
Feed

Slot

0
Substrate

Measurement
Simulation (HFSS)

Magnitude (dB)

-5

Foam
Reflector

-10
-15
-20
-25
3

(a) Structure of slot antenna

3.5

4.5
5
5.5
Frequency (GHz)

6.5

(b) Simulation and measurement results

Figure 4. Microstrip-fed slot antenna

Another consideration lies on feed network to deliver the microwave signal with minimizing
loss and keeping bandwidth. The problem is the loss of bandwidth mainly due to the
T-junctions of the network. To avoid this problem, the microstrip-slot transition, which can give
us a broad bandwidth, is invoked (Aikawa et al., 1989). Microstrip-to-slot feed improves the
bandwidth of the antenna than all microstrip feed. The dimension of the microstrip-slot transition
is optimized using Agilents Momentum software. As shown in Fig. 5, the geometry for the 44
antenna array was optimized with two ports (port 2 indicates activated antenna element) with
large bandwidth from 4.6GHz to 5.8GHz under 10dB.
Port 2

Slot

Microstrip

Magnitude (dB)

0
-10
-20
-30
-40
4

Port 1

(a) Geometry of feed network

4.4

4.8
5.2
Frequency (GHz)

5.6

(b) Reflection (S11) at port 1

Figure 5. Optimized microstrip-slot transition

Using the modified multiplexing technique for switching and microstrip-slot transition as a feed
network, the design of 44 antenna array was finalized and fabricated as shown in Fig. 6. The
authors are currently working on the measurement of the module, and the whole antenna array
will be designed based on the design of the 44 module.

(a) Feed network

(b) Slot antenna and feed

Figure 6. Photos of fabricated antenna array

CONCLUSION
In this study, 3D microwave imaging technology was developed in order to detect invisible
damage and to identify the location of steel rebars or dowels. The numerical simulation results
showed that the resolution of the system was obtained in the order of the wavelength in a medium
by using the bi-focusing operator. The design of 44 antenna module optimized with the
modified multiplexing technique and microstrip-slot transitions gave a large bandwidth and good
radiation performance of the antenna array at the illuminating frequency of 5.2GHz.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This work was supported by California Department of Transportation under Award No.
65A0140.
REFERENCES
Feng, M. Q., De Flaviis, F., and Kim, Y. J. (2002), "Use of Microwaves for Damage Detection of
Fiber Reinforced Polymer-Wrapped Concrete Structures", Journal of Engineering Mechanics,
ASCE, 128(2), 172-183.
Kim, Y. J., Jofre, L., De Flaviis, F., and Feng, M. Q. (2002), "Microwave Sub-Surface Imaging
Technology for Damage Detection of Concrete Structures", Proceedings of 15th ASCE
Engineering Mechanics Division Conference, 589-596, New York, NY, June 2-5.
Girons, I. M., Jofre, L, Ferrando, M., De Los Reyes, M, and Bolomey, J. Ch. (1987),
"Microwave Imaging with Crossed Linear Arrays", IEE Proceedings, 134(3), 249-252, June.
Aikawa, M., and Ogawa, H. (1989), "Double-Sided MICs and Their Applications", IEEE Trans.
on Microwave Theory and Techniques, 37(2), 406-413, February.
Pierri, R., Brancaccio, A., and De Blasio, F. (2000), "Multifrequency Dielectric Profile Inversion
for a Cylindrically Stratified Medium", IEEE Trans. Geoscience and Remote sensing, 38(4),
1716-1724.