Development of an Electromagnetic Detection Method for Explosive Materials

Abstract

The main technical requirements for the development of an electromagnetic detection method for explosive materials are considered. The main elements of interference that increase the detection error are classified. The probability of detecting explosives at different soil depths is modeled. It was found that the frequency of the scanning signal has the greatest influence. Thus, reducing the scanning frequency increases the probability of detecting an object. However, reducing the irradiation frequency is limited by the resolution for objects of a given size. It is shown that reducing the dielectric constant of the soil does not lead to satisfactory detection probabilities even in the upper soil layer. In the size range of real explosives (0.1–0.5 m), the detection probability decreases by 10-25%. The analysis of the characteristic time signatures of explosives imitations showed that the development of a database of such signatures will reduce the number of false signals. An algorithm for the implementation of the method of electromagnetic detection of explosives consisting of 18 functional blocks and three logical blocks has been developed. The obtained results made it possible to describe the procedure for detecting explosive materials in a contaminated area. The use of the obtained results in humanitarian demining will increase the speed of surveying the territory, increase the probability of detecting explosive objects and reduce the risk of injury to personnel conducting humanitarian demining.