Numerical and Experimental Validation of Optimization Results in Microwave Enhanced Infrared Landmines’ Detection

Landmines still pose a serious threat mostly to civilians. Therefore, there is no doubt that working on the methods of landmines´ detection and liquidation should be considered extremely important. In this paper, we introduce the active infrared thermography with microwave excitation used in nonmetallic landmines´ detection. The effectiveness of the method is strongly dependent on the manner in which microwaves illuminate the ground. In this paper, we propose a new waveguide flange´s construction, which guarantees the uniform field distribution, and through this, a relatively uniform microwave heating on a certain area. The flange´s shape is based on box-horn. Its dimensions will be determined using a hybrid optimization algorithm. Results obtained in an optimization process will be validated using the numerical models. The experiments showing flange´s efficiency, concerning heating of sand itself and sand with buried landmines, will also be presented.