Estudio de perfiles hídricos a partir de los métodos TDR (Time Domain Reflectometry)

the TDR (Time Domain Reflectometry) method permits, unlike classic methods, to obtain the evolution of the average amount of water in the soils. Nevertheless, this techníque does not permit measuríng the profiles of the amount of water when using only one probe. In this work, carried out in the laboratory Uníté de Recherche en Génie Civil(URGC)- Géotechnique, ofthe Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA)ofLyon, France, we did some research into the exístíng literature to review the príncíples on which the TDR method is based. This research was also done to obtain reliable methods easy to use that had the purpose of solvíng the problem (measuríng quantity profiles of water through the use of only one probe). For the determination of humidity profilesby using a TDRprobe, the simplifiedmethod developed by Pereira dos Santos [1997] was chosen. On the other hand, some computer programs for the processíng of TDR sígnals were used: some laboratory tests were done in order to obtain the foundations for evaluatíng those methods and programs. Itwas demonstrated that many quite important problems should still be solved to arrive at the poínt of controllíng the TDR technique for determíníng hydric profiles.