Microwave imaging

Microwave imaging is a science which has been evolved from older detecting/locating techniques (e.g., radar) in order to evaluate
hidden or embedded objects in a structure (or media)using electromagnetic (EM) waves in microwave regime (i.e., ~300 MHz-
300 GHz).[1] Engineering and application oriented microwave imaging for non-destructive testing is called microwave testing, see
below.

Microwave imaging techniques can be classified as either quantitative or qualitative. Quantitative imaging techniques (are also
known as inverse scattering methods) give the electrical (i.e., electrical and magnetic property distribution) and geometrical
parameters (i.e., shape, size and location) of an imaged object by solving a nonlinear inverse problem. The nonlinear inverse problem
is converted into a linear inverse problem (i.e., Ax=b where A and b are known and x (or image) is unknown) by using Born or
distorted Born approximations. Despite the fact that direct matrix inversion methods can be invoked to solve the inversion problem,
this will be so costly when the size of the problem is so big (i.e., when A is a very dense and big matrix). To overcome this problem,
direct inversion is replaced with iterative solvers. Techniques in this class are called forward iterative methods which are usually time
consuming. On the other hand, qualitative microwave imaging methods calculate a qualitative profile (which is called as reflectivity
function or qualitative image) to represent the hidden object. These techniques use approximations to simplify the imaging problem
and then they use back-propagation (also called time reversal, phase compensation, or back-migration) to reconstruct the unknown
image profile. Synthetic aperture radar(SAR), ground-penetrating radar(GPR), and frequency-wave number migration algorithm are
[1] .
some of the most popular qualitative microwave imaging methods

Contents
Principles
Applications
Microwave testing
Principle
Procedures
Applications
References
Literature
External links

Principles
In general, a microwave imaging system is made up of hardware and software components. The hardware collects data from the
sample under test. A transmitting antenna sends EM waves towards the sample under test (e.g., human body for medical imaging). If
the sample is made of only homogeneous material and is of infinite size, theoretically no EM wave will be reflected. Introduction of
any anomaly which has different properties (i.e., electrical/magnetic) in comparison with the surrounding homogeneous medium may
reflect a portion of the EM wave. The bigger the difference between the properties of the anomaly and the surrounding medium is,
the stronger the reflected wave will be. This reflection is collected by the same antenna in a monostatic system, or a different receiver
antenna in bistatic configurations.

To increase the cross-range resolution of the imaging system, several antennas should be distributed over an area (which is called the
sampling area) with a spacing less than the operating wavelength. However, the mutual coupling between the antennas, which are
placed close to each other, may degrade the accuracy of the collected signals. Moreover, the transmitter and receiver system will
become very complex. To address these problems, one single scanning antenna is used instead of several antennas. In this
configuration, the antenna scans over the entire sampling area, and the collected data
is mapped together with their antenna position coordinates. In fact, a synthetic
(virtual) aperture is produced by moving the antenna (similar to the synthetic
aperture radar principle[2]). Later, the collected data, which is sometimes referred to
as raw data, is fed into the software for processing. Depending on the applied
processing algorithm, microwave imaging techniques can be categorized as
quantitative and qualitative.

A general view of a microwave

Applications imaging system.
Microwave imaging has been used in a variety of applications such as: (http://hdl.handle.net/10355/41515)

nondestructive testing and evaluation (NDT&E, see below), medical imaging,

concealed weapon detection at security check points, structural health monitoring,
and through-the-wall imaging.

Microwave imaging for medical applications is also becoming of more interest. The dielectric properties of malignant tissue change
significantly in comparison with the properties of normal tissue (e.g., breast tissue). This difference translates into a contrast which
can be detected by microwave imaging methods. As one example, there are several research groups all around the world working on
developing efficient microwave imaging techniques for early detection of breast cancer.[3]

Ageing of infrastructure is becoming a serious problem worldwide. For example, in

reinforced concrete structures, corrosion of their steel reinforcements is the main
cause of their deterioration. In U.S. alone, repair and maintenance cost due to such
corrosion is about $276 billion per year,[4] [3].

Recently, microwave imaging has shown great potential to be used for structural
health monitoring. Lower frequency microwaves (e.g., <10 GHz) can easily
penetrate through concrete and reach objects of interest such as reinforcement bars
(rebars). If there is any rust on the rebar, since rust reflects less EM waves in
comparison with sound metal, the microwave imaging method can distinguish
3D image of rebars with corrosion
between rebars with and without rust (or corrosion). Microwave imaging also can be
produced using microwave imaging,
used to detect any embedded anomaly inside concrete (e.g., crack or air void).
http://hdl.handle.net/10355/41515
These applications of microwave imaging are part of non-destructuve (NDT) testing
in civil engineering. More on microwave imaging in NDT is described in the
following.

Microwave testing
Microwave testing uses the scientific basics of microwave imaging for the inspection of technical parts with harmless microwaves.
Microwave testing is one of the methods of non-destructive testing (NDT). It is restricted to tests of dielectric, i. e. non-conducting
material. It can be used to inspect components also in a built-in state, e. g. built-in non-visible gaskets in plastic valves.

Principle
The microwave frequencies extend from 300 MHz to 300 GHz corresponding to wavelengths between 1 m and 1 mm. The section
from 30 GHz to 300 GHz with wavelengths between 10 mm and 1 mm is also called millimeter waves. Microwaves are in the order
of the size of the components to be tested. In different dielectric media they propagate differently fast and at surfaces between them
they are reflected. Another part propagates beyond the surface. The larger the difference in the wave impedance, the larger is the
reflected part.
In order to find material defects, a test probe, attached or in a small distance, is
moved over the surface of the device under test. This can be done manually or
automatically.[5] The test probe transmits and receives microwaves.

Changes of the dielectric properties at surfaces (e. g. shrinkage cavities, pores,

foreign material inclusion, or cracks) within the interior of the device under test B-scan of a foam-GFRP sandwich at
100 GHz. The indication at x = 120
reflect the incident microwave and send a part of it back to the test probe, which acts
mm results from moisture in the foam
as a transmitter and as a receiver.
at a depth of about 20 mm below the
DUT surface. (Becker, Keil, Becker
The electronic data evaluation leads to a display of the results, e. g. as a B-scan
Photonik GmbH: Jahrestagung
(cross sectional view) or as a C-scan (top view). These display methods are adopted DGZfP 2017, Beitrag Mi3C2)
from ultrasonic testing.

Procedures
Besides the reflection method also the through transmission method is possible, in
which separate transmit and receive antennas are used. The backside of the device
under test (DUT) must be accessible and the method gives no information about the
GFRP pipe wall. C-scan. In the
depth of a defect within the DUT.
middle: indication of a defect in 60
Microwave tests are possible with constant frequency (CW) or with continuously mm depth, 24 GHz
tuned frequency (FMCW). FMCW is advantageous to determine the depth of defects
within the DUT.

A test probe attached to the DUT's surface gives information about the material
distribution below the point of contact. When moving over the DUT surface point by
point many such information is stored and then evaluated to give an overall image.
This takes time. Directly imaging procedures are faster: Microwave versions are
either electronic[6] or make use of planar microwave detector consisting of a
[7] ).
microwave absorbing foil and an infrared camera (NIDIT procedure
NIDIT through transmission image of
a rotor blade trailing edge with
Applications artificially distributed adhesive
Microwave testing is a useful NDT method for dielectric materials. Among them are
plastics, glass-fiber reinforced plastics (GFRP), plastic foams, wood, wood-plastic
composites (WPC), and most types of ceramics. Defects interior in the DUT and at
its surface can be detected, e. g. in semi-finished products orpipes.

Special applications of microwave testing are non-destructive

moisture measurements
wall thickness measurements
measurements of paint thickness oncarbon composites (CFRP)
condition monitoring, e. g. presence of gaskets in assembled valves, Gauge FSC fort the non-destructive
rubber based piping in heat exchangers[8] measurement of paint thickness on
measurement of material parameters, e.g.permittivity and residual CFRP, here on an aerobatic aircraft
stress
disbond detection in strengthened concrete bridge members retrofitted
with carbon fiber reinforced (CFRP) composite laminates[9]
[9]
corrosion and precursor pitting detection in painted aluminum and steel substrates
[9]
flaw detection in spray-on foam insulation and the acreage heat tiles of the Space Shuttle.
Microwave testing is used in many industrial sectors:
 [10]
aerospace, e. g. non-destructive paint thickness measurements on CFRP
[11]
automobile, e. g. NDT of organo sheet components and of GFRP leaf springs
civil engineering, e. g. radar applications[12]
energy supply, e .g. test of rotor blades of wind power plants, riser pipe[13]
security, e .g. body scanner on airports[6]
In the last years the need for NDT has increased generally and especially also for dielectric materials. For this reason and because
microwave technics more and more are used in consumer products and hereby became much less expensive, NDT with microwaves
increases. In recognizing this growing importance, in 2011 the Expert committee for microwave and THz procedures[14] of the
German Society of Non-Destructive Testing (DGZfP) was founded as in 2014 the Microwave Testing Committee of the American
Society for Non-Destructive Testing (ASNT). Standardization work is at the beginning.

References
1. "Synthetic aperture radar-based techniques and reconfigurable antenna design for microwave imaging of layered
structures" (http://hdl.handle.net/10355/41515). hdl.handle.net. Retrieved 2014-05-07.
2. M. Soumekh, Synthetic Aperture Radar Signal Processing, 1st ed. New ork,
Y NY, USA: Wiley, 1999.
3. Bond E J, Li X, Hagness S C and Van Veen B D 2003 Microwave imaging via space-timebeamforming for early
detection of breast cancer IEEE Trans. Antennas Propagat. 51 1690-705
4. G. Roqueta, L. Jofre, and M. Feng, “Microwave Non-Destructive evaluation of corrosion in reinforced concrete
structures,” in Proc. 5th Eur. Conf.Antennas Propagation (EUCAP),Apr. 11–15, 2011, pp. 787–791.
5. "Application note from MVG/Satimo. 2 September 2017"(http://www.mvg-world.com/en/products/field_product_famil
y/industrial-inspection-5/dentro-lrx).
6. "Security through technology Information of ROHDE & SCHW
ARZ GmbH & Co. KG. 2 September 2017"(https://cdn.
rohde-schwarz.com/pws/dl_downloads/dl_common_library/dl_news_from_rs/216/NEWS_216__QPS_english.pdf)
(PDF).
7. "Microwave Testing: an Overview. Application note of FIT-M. 2 September 2017"(http://fitm.de/wp-content/uploads/2
017/07/N38e-Microwave-Testing_An-Overview.pdf) (PDF).
8. "Rubber-based heat exchanger inlet and outlet piping Application note from Evisive. 2 September 2017"
(http://evisiv
e.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/ICONE17-75602.pdf)(PDF).
9. S. Kharkovsky and R. Zoughi, “Microwave and millimeter wave nondestructive testing and evaluation—Overview and
recent advances,” IEEE Instrum. Meas. Mag., vol. 10, pp. 26–38, Apr
. 2007.
10. "Video about paint thickness measurement on CFRP - Application note of FIT-M. 2 September 2017" (http://fitm.de/w
p-content/uploads/2015/07/training.avi).
11. "Microwave testing of GFRP leaf springs - Application note from FIT
-M. 2 September 2017"(http://fitm.de/wp-conten
t/uploads/2015/10/Microwave-System-for-NDT -of-Leaf-Springs-made-from-GFRP .pdf) (PDF).
12. "Christiane Maierhofer: Radaranwendungen im Bauwesen. In: ZfP-Zeitung 72, Dezember 2000, 43-50 www
.ndt.net.
2 September 2017" (http://www.ndt.net/article/dgzfp/pdf/zfp72-maierhofer.pdf) (PDF).
13. "Scanning Report of Flexible Riser Pipe Section - Application note from Evisive. 2 September 2017"
(http://evisive.co
m/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Flex-Riser-Report-1.pdf)(PDF).
14. "Expert Committee MTHz of the DGZfP - 2 September 2017"(https://www.dgzfp.de/Fachaussch%C3%BCsse/Mikro
wellen-u-Terahertzverfahren).

Literature
Joseph T. Case, Shant Kenderian:MWNDT – An Inspection Method. In: Materials Evaluation, March 2017, 339-346.
(This paper contains many links regarding microwave testing)
Reza Zoughi: Microwave Non-Destructive Testing and Evaluation Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht 2000.
N. Ida: Microwave NDT Springer Science & Business Media, Luxembourg, 2012

External links
 [1] Microwave-Testing: An-Overview
[2] Non-destructive Testing of WPC Planks using the Non-Ionizing Direct Imaging NIDIT procedure
[3] Electronic Microwave Imaging with Planar Multistatic Arrays

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