TABLE OF CONTENTS J.F.Shaeffer
The objective of this chapter is to present the considerations required in estimating the RCS of a complex target, data presentation formats, and data reduction. Topics to be covered are
High-frequency scattering by a complex target this is a discussion of the scattering mechanisms and phasor addition from multiple scattering centers;
Simple hip-pocket formulas for estimating scattering;
RCS data requirements and presentation formats;
RCS sector statistical characterizations, including examples of geometric and arithmetic averages.
High-frequency scattering occurs when the wavelength of the incident radiation is much smaller than the scattering body and the various scattering center components constituting the body. This condition is usually met for most targets of interest in the microwave region. The following scattering mechanisms usually make up the net scattering from a target. They are listed in rough order of importance:
Specular scattering from planar, singly curved, and doubly curved surfaces when their surface normals point back toward the radar (for backscatter); the specular mechanism is the bright flash return;
Multiple bounce dihedral or trihedral corner reflectors with only a few bounces or cavity-like returns with many bounces;
End-region returns from planar and singly curved surfaces that create the sidelobe envelope;
Diffraction from edges when normal to the edge for leading edge with E parallel and for trailing edges with E perpendicular;
Surface wave scattering; traveling wave reflections...
