A Circularly Polarized Broadband Composite Spiral Antenna for Ground Penetrating Radar

To enhance the capability of a ground penetrating radar (GPR) in subsurface target identification and improve its polarization sensitivity in detecting underground linear objects, a circularly polarized broadband composite spiral antenna was designed. This antenna integrates equiangular spiral and A...

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Main Authors: Hai Liu, Shangyang Zhang, Pei Wu, Xu Meng, Junyong Zhou, Yanliang Du
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Sensors
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/6/1890
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author Hai Liu
Shangyang Zhang
Pei Wu
Xu Meng
Junyong Zhou
Yanliang Du
author_facet Hai Liu
Shangyang Zhang
Pei Wu
Xu Meng
Junyong Zhou
Yanliang Du
author_sort Hai Liu
collection DOAJ
description To enhance the capability of a ground penetrating radar (GPR) in subsurface target identification and improve its polarization sensitivity in detecting underground linear objects, a circularly polarized broadband composite spiral antenna was designed. This antenna integrates equiangular spiral and Archimedean spiral structures, achieving a wideband coverage of 1–5 GHz with stable circular polarization characteristics. The antenna employs an exponentially tapered microstrip balun for impedance matching and a metallic-backed cavity filled with absorbing materials to enhance its directivity. Experimental results demonstrate excellent radiation performance and stable circular polarization characteristics, with the axial ratio consistently below 3 dB throughout the operating frequency band, highlighting its suitability for polarimetric GPR systems. Furthermore, a 3D GPR measurement using the designed antenna validates its improved capacity for detecting subsurface linear objects, compared to the conventional linearly polarized bowtie antenna.
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id doaj-art-d25a4a109a964dddbe08ac1a1a12a1cc
institution DOAJ
issn 1424-8220
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Sensors
spelling doaj-art-d25a4a109a964dddbe08ac1a1a12a1cc2025-08-20T02:43:07ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-03-01256189010.3390/s25061890A Circularly Polarized Broadband Composite Spiral Antenna for Ground Penetrating RadarHai Liu0Shangyang Zhang1Pei Wu2Xu Meng3Junyong Zhou4Yanliang Du5School of Civil Engineering and Transportation, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering and Transportation, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering and Transportation, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering and Transportation, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering and Transportation, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, ChinaCollege of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518061, ChinaTo enhance the capability of a ground penetrating radar (GPR) in subsurface target identification and improve its polarization sensitivity in detecting underground linear objects, a circularly polarized broadband composite spiral antenna was designed. This antenna integrates equiangular spiral and Archimedean spiral structures, achieving a wideband coverage of 1–5 GHz with stable circular polarization characteristics. The antenna employs an exponentially tapered microstrip balun for impedance matching and a metallic-backed cavity filled with absorbing materials to enhance its directivity. Experimental results demonstrate excellent radiation performance and stable circular polarization characteristics, with the axial ratio consistently below 3 dB throughout the operating frequency band, highlighting its suitability for polarimetric GPR systems. Furthermore, a 3D GPR measurement using the designed antenna validates its improved capacity for detecting subsurface linear objects, compared to the conventional linearly polarized bowtie antenna.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/6/1890ground penetrating radar (GPR)spiral antennabroadbandcircular polarizationaxial ratio
spellingShingle Hai Liu
Shangyang Zhang
Pei Wu
Xu Meng
Junyong Zhou
Yanliang Du
A Circularly Polarized Broadband Composite Spiral Antenna for Ground Penetrating Radar
Sensors
ground penetrating radar (GPR)
spiral antenna
broadband
circular polarization
axial ratio
title A Circularly Polarized Broadband Composite Spiral Antenna for Ground Penetrating Radar
title_full A Circularly Polarized Broadband Composite Spiral Antenna for Ground Penetrating Radar
title_fullStr A Circularly Polarized Broadband Composite Spiral Antenna for Ground Penetrating Radar
title_full_unstemmed A Circularly Polarized Broadband Composite Spiral Antenna for Ground Penetrating Radar
title_short A Circularly Polarized Broadband Composite Spiral Antenna for Ground Penetrating Radar
title_sort circularly polarized broadband composite spiral antenna for ground penetrating radar
topic ground penetrating radar (GPR)
spiral antenna
broadband
circular polarization
axial ratio
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/6/1890
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