Polarization Effect in Contactless X-Band Detection of Bars in Reinforced Concrete Structures

This study investigates the influence of electromagnetic field polarization in the non-destructive testing of reinforced concrete structures through both theoretical analysis and experimental validation. Theoretical models predict that the orientation of reinforcement bars relative to the incident electric field significantly affects the scattered signal, influencing their detectability. Laboratory experiments on realistic reinforced concrete specimens presenting both vertical bars and horizontal brackets confirm these predictions, demonstrating that polarization can be exploited to enhance measurement accuracy. These findings provide useful insights into the development of microwave-based diagnostic techniques for structural assessment.