Mutual induction and the effect of host conductivity on the EM induction response of buried plate targets using 3-D finite-element analysis

A finite-element analysis of electromagnetic induction (EMI) in the presence of multiple buried metal targets is undertaken for the purpose of unexploded ordnance (UXO) detection and discrimination. The effects of mutual coupling between metal targets and the host conductivity are shown to be important. At high frequencies, mutual coupling is strong, and effects of host conductivity are relatively minor. At lower frequencies near the resistive limit, EMI responses are very small, but the effect of host conductivity becomes important. This is due to the galvanic current flow in the host medium that dissipates charge accumulations on the host/target interfaces. Qualitative analysis of induced current patterns in metal targets demonstrates that mutual coupling is strongly affected by target orientation and skin depth. Rigorous forward modeling of EMI responses is essential to understanding UXO sensor signatures so that discrimination between live UXO items and harmless fragments and clutter may become possible.