Measurement of the complex refractive index of concrete at 57.5 GHz

The complex refractive index of concrete is measured at 57.5 GHz by the combined use of free-space reflection and transmission methods. The measured refractive index of the concrete 14 months after concreting was 2.55-j0.084. This index, in particular the imaginary part, is sensitive to the curing time after concreting and the water content. The transmission coefficient of a concrete plate, mainly determined from the imaginary part of the complex refractive index, is less than -20 dB/cm when the concrete is fresh and moist and reaches -9 dB/cm after aging for fourteen months. In contrast, the reflection coefficient of a concrete plate is less dependent on water content.