ASTM D6432-99

Standard Guide for Using the Surface Ground Penetrating Radar Method for Subsurface Investigation

SCOPE
1.1 Purpose and Application:
1.1.1 This guide summarizes the equipment, field procedures, and interpretation methods for the assessment of sub surface materials using the impulse Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Method. GPR is most often employed as a technique that uses high-frequency electromagnetic (EM) waves (from 10 to 3000 MHz) to acquire subsurface information. GPR detects changes in EM properties (dielectric permittivity, conductivity, and magnetic permeability), that in a geologic setting, are a function of soil and rock material, water content, and bulk density. Data are normally acquired using antennas placed on the ground surface or in boreholes. The transmitting antenna radiates EM waves that propagate in the subsurface and reflect from boundaries at which there are EM property contrasts. The receiving GPR antenna records the reflected waves over a selectable time range. The depths to the reflecting interfaces are calculated from the arrival times in the GPR data if the EM propagation velocity in the subsurface can be estimated or measured.
1.1.2 GPR measurements as described in this guide are used in geologic, engineering, hydrologic, and environmental applications. The GPR method is used to map geologic conditions that include depth to bedrock, depth to the water table (Wright et al (1)2 ), depth and thickness of soil strata on land and under fresh water bodies (Beres and Haeni (2)), and the location of subsurface cavities and fractures in bedrock (Ulriksen (3) and Imse and Levine (4)). Other applications include the location of objects such as pipes, drums, tanks, cables, and boulders , mapping landfill and trench boundaries (Benson et al (6)), mapping contaminants (Cosgrave et al (7); Brewster and Annan (8); Daniels et al (9)), conducting archaeological (Vaughan (10)) and forensic investigations (Davenport et al (11)), inspection of brick, masonry, and concrete structures, roads and railroad trackbed studies (Ulriksen (3)), and highway bridge scour studies (Placzek and Haeni (12)). Additional applications and case studies can be found in the various Proceedings of the International Conferences on Ground Penetrating Radar (Lucius et al (13); Hannien and Autio, (14), Redman, (15); Sato, (16); Plumb (17)), various Proceedings of the Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems (Environmental and Engineering Geophysical Society, 1988-1998), and The Ground Penetrating Radar Workshop (Pilon (18)), EPA (19), and Daniels (20) provide overviews of the GPR method.
1.2 Limitations:
1.2.1 This guide provides an overview of the impulse GPR method. It does not address details of the theory, field procedures, or interpretation of the data. References are included for that purpose and are considered an essential part of this guide. It is recommended that the user of the GPR method be familiar with the relevant material within this guide and the references cited in the text and with Guides D 420, D 5730, D 5753, D 6429, and D 6235.
1.2.2 This guide is limited to the commonly used approach to GPR measurements from the ground surface. The method can be adapted for a number of special uses on ice (Haeni et al (21); Wright et al (22)), within or between boreholes (Lane et al (23); Lane et al (24)), on water (Haeni (25)), and airborne (Arcone et al (25)) applications. A discussion of these other adaptations of GPR measurements is not included in this guide.
1.2.3 The approaches suggested in this guide for using GPR are the most commonly used, widely accepted, and proven; however, other approaches or modifications to using GPR that are technically sound may be substituted if technically justified and documented.
1.2.4 This guide offers an organized collection of information or a series of options and does not recommend a specific course of action. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgements. Not...

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Jun-1999
• ICS: 07.060 - Geology. Meteorology. Hydrology
• Technical Committee: D18 - Soil and Rock
• Drafting Committee: D18.01 - Surface and Subsurface Investigation

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM D6432-99(2005) - Standard Guide for Using the Surface Ground Penetrating Radar Method for Subsurface Investigation
• Effective Date: 01-May-2005
• Referred By: ASTM D7128-18 - Standard Guide for Using the Seismic-Reflection Method for Shallow Subsurface Investigation
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-1999
• Referred By: ASTM D420-18 - Standard Guide for Site Characterization for Engineering Design and Construction Purposes
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-1999
• Referred By: ASTM D5092/D5092M-16 - Standard Practice for Design and Installation of Groundwater Monitoring Wells
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-1999
• Referred By: ASTM D6429-23 - Standard Guide for Selecting Surface Geophysical Methods
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-1999

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D 6432 – 99
Standard Guide for
Using the Surface Ground Penetrating Radar Method for
1
Subsurface Investigation
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6432; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope applications and case studies can be found in the various
Proceedings of the International Conferences on Ground
1.1 Purpose and Application:
Penetrating Radar(Luciusetal (13);HannienandAutio, (14),
1.1.1 This guide summarizes the equipment, field proce-
Redman, (15); Sato, (16); Plumb (17)), various Proceedings of
dures, and interpretation methods for the assessment of sub-
the Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineer-
surface materials using the impulse Ground Penetrating Radar
ing and Environmental Problems (Environmental and Engi-
(GPR) Method. GPR is most often employed as a technique
neering Geophysical Society, 1988–1998), and The Ground
thatuseshigh-frequencyelectromagnetic(EM)waves(from10
Penetrating Radar Workshop (Pilon (18)), EPA (19), and
to 3000 MHz) to acquire subsurface information. GPR detects
Daniels (20) provide overviews of the GPR method.
changesinEMproperties(dielectricpermittivity,conductivity,
1.2 Limitations:
and magnetic permeability), that in a geologic setting, are a
1.2.1 This guide provides an overview of the impulse GPR
function of soil and rock material, water content, and bulk
method. It does not address details of the theory, field proce-
density. Data are normally acquired using antennas placed on
dures,orinterpretationofthedata.Referencesareincludedfor
the ground surface or in boreholes. The transmitting antenna
that purpose and are considered an essential part of this guide.
radiates EM waves that propagate in the subsurface and reflect
ItisrecommendedthattheuseroftheGPRmethodbefamiliar
fromboundariesatwhichthereareEMpropertycontrasts.The
with the relevant material within this guide and the references
receiving GPR antenna records the reflected waves over a
cited in the text and with Guides D420, D5730, D5753,
selectabletimerange.Thedepthstothereflectinginterfacesare
D6429, and D6235.
calculated from the arrival times in the GPR data if the EM
1.2.2 This guide is limited to the commonly used approach
propagation velocity in the subsurface can be estimated or
to GPR measurements from the ground surface. The method
measured.
can be adapted for a number of special uses on ice (Haeni et al
1.1.2 GPRmeasurementsasdescribedinthisguideareused
(21); Wright et al (22)), within or between boreholes (Lane et
in geologic, engineering, hydrologic, and environmental appli-
al (23); Lane et al (24)), on water (Haeni (25)), and airborne
cations. The GPR method is used to map geologic conditions
(Arcone et al (25)) applications. A discussion of these other
that include depth to bedrock, depth to the water table (Wright
2 adaptationsofGPRmeasurementsisnotincludedinthisguide.
et al (1) ), depth and thickness of soil strata on land and under
1.2.3 TheapproachessuggestedinthisguideforusingGPR
fresh water bodies (Beres and Haeni (2)), and the location of
are the most commonly used, widely accepted, and proven;
subsurface cavities and fractures in bedrock (Ulriksen (3) and
however, other approaches or modifications to using GPR that
Imse and Levine (4)). Other applications include the location
aretechnicallysoundmaybesubstitutediftechnicallyjustified
of objects such as pipes, drums, tanks, cables, and boulders ,
and documented.
mapping landfill and trench boundaries (Benson et al (6)),
1.2.4 This guide offers an organized collection of informa-
mapping contaminants (Cosgrave et al (7); Brewster and
tion or a series of options and does not recommend a specific
Annan (8); Daniels et al (9)), conducting archaeological
course of action. This document cannot replace education or
(Vaughan (10)) and forensic investigations (Davenport et al
experienceandshouldbeusedinconjunctionwithprofessional
(11)), inspection of brick, masonry, and concrete structures,
judgements. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in
roadsandrailroadtrackbedstudies(Ulriksen (3)),andhighway
all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to
bridge scour studies (Placzek and Haeni (12)). Additional
represent or replace the standard of care by which the
adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-18 on Soil and should this document be applied without consideration of a
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.01 on Surface and
project’s many unique aspects. The word “Standard”
...