2D modeling of GPR data including dispersion
GPR; Numerical modeling; Dispersion; gprMax.
The quantitative interpretation of GPR data is quite complex. Numerical modeling using the finite difference method in the time domain (FDTD) can play a key role in the interpretation since it can simulate complex geological scenarios. In order to make synthetic GPR sections as realistic as possible, it is essential to implement the dispersion effect. This effect causes changes in the pulse shape, usually introducing a temporal stretching with consequent loss of resolution. This effect can be introduced through the dispersion / attenuation model of the constant quality factor (Q). In this approach, the attenuation factor is independent of frequency, an hypothesis that is approximately valid for rocks within the typical GPR frequency range (10 MHz to 1 GHz). The crucial question is how to introduce a Q constant model in time domain modeling. In this work, we investigate the approach of modifying the open access software gprMax, aiming to simulate a constant Q model, within the useful frequency range of GPR, using Debey's relaxation model with several poles. We are treating the problem of obtaining the most suitable poles as an inverse problem, and obtaining the best solution through the global optimization search algorithm COMPLEX.