Thesis (MScEng (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / Ground penetrating radar is currently proving itself as an invaluable tool for the prediction of
geological structures in the mining environment. Borehole radar is a specific application of this
technology, useful in the prediction of the course of rock layers between boreholes ahead of
mining. Establishing borehole radar as an industrial tool requires a system that is more userfriendly
and easier to deploy than the bi-static radar systems currently available.
The development of a monostatic radar system is discussed. It is an ultra wide band, pulse
radar system that operates at VHF (10-100 MHz). The system is required to detect reflections
from objects 5 m away and further. This translates to a total electromagnetic propagation time
of approximately 100 ns or more in the rock medium.
The complete design process - from fundamental requirements, through a conceptual design,
to a final electronic circuit - is discussed. The design is also built, measured in the laboratory
and taken for initial field trails. The following aspects are considered:
• Pulse generation by means of an original circuit based on power MOSFETs.
• Routing of the transmitted- and received signal between transmitter, receiver and
antenna. This is done using a novel, active quasi circulator topology.
• Methods of increasing isolation (actively and passively) between transmitter and
receiver.
• Interfacing with a specific receiver, antenna and data acquisition system.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/1709 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Van der Merwe, P. J. |
| Contributors | Cloete, J. H., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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