Abstract :
The Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is frequently used in pavement engineering for road pavement inspection. The main objective of this work is to validate nondestructive, quick and powerful measurements using GPR for assessment of subgrade and asphalt /concrete conditions. In the present study, two different antennas (250, 500 MHz) were used. The case studies are presented was carried in University of Baghdad over about 100m of paved road. After data acquisition and radar grams collection, they have been processed using RadExplorer V1.4 software implementing different filters with the most effective ones (time zero adjustment and DC removal) in addition to other interpretation tool parameters. The interpretation results showed that with 250 MHz antenna, the buried plastic pipe and the flexible pavement layer were identified. The later appeared as one layer without identifying the rigid pavement layer. With 500 MHz antenna, the plastic pipe, rigid pavement, appeared clearly. Moreover, the short type of maximum time window using antenna 500 MHz appeared to be the most suitable for detecting some radar anomalies (plastic pipe, and pavement thickness) which were clearly defined. While, the suitable radar wave velocity was 100 m/ns for estimation of the flexible and rigid pavement layer thicknesses respectively. No change is obtained with changing point interval. . Finally, this diagnostic tool of GPR for pavement defects and damages investigations seems very promising, cost effective and efficient in its implementation
