Measurements in an Outdoor Facility and Numerical Simulation of the Radar Cross Section of Targets at 10 GHz

Peixoto, Guilherme G.; Alves, Mauro Angelo; Orlando, Alberto José de Faro; Rezende, Mirabel Cerqueira

doi:10.5028/jatm.2011.03019310

Abstract

This paper presents preliminary data from an ongoing study on the radar cross section (RCS) of targets with simple and complex surface geometries (a flat square plate, a 90° dihedral corner reflector and a retired air-to-air missile). Measurements and computer simulations of these metallic targets were carried out at 10 GHz and also when the surfaces of the targets were completely coated with a radar absorbing material (RAM), consisting of flexible sheets of carbonyl iron dispersed in a silicone rubber matrix. Experimental measurements were obtained in an outdoor facility, and computer simulations were performed using a commercial software package. The main objective of this study was to compare results in order to highlight some of the issues related to the determination of the RCS of an actual target. Additionally, a Brazilian research institute has demonstrated the capability to produce and characterize materials related to the main aspects of RCS research, namely, measurement, simulation, and production of RAM. This paper introduces the reader to the research being carried out in this area at the Materials Division in the Instituto de Aeronáutica e Espaço.

Keywords:
Radar cross section; Computer simulations; Outdoor measurements; Radar absorbing materials

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REFERENCES

Alves, M.A., Peixoto, G.G., and Rezende, M.C., 2007a, "Simulations of the radar cross section of a generic air-to-air missile covered with radar absorbent materials", Proceedings of the Microwave and Optoelectronics Conference, IMOC 2007. SBMO/IEEE MTT-S Internacional, pp. 409-412, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
Alves, M.A., Peixoto, G.G. and Rezende, M.C., 2007b, "Orientation of a support pylon used in radar cross section measurements", Proceedings of the Microwave and Optoelectronics Conference, IMOC 2007. SBMO/IEEE MTT-S Internacional, pp. 406-408, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
CADRCS, 2007, "CADRCS - Revolutionary PC based software for radar cross section simulation". Available from: http://www.cadrcs.com
» http://www.cadrcs.com
Essen H. et al, 2002, "On the scattering mechanism of power lines at millimeter-waves", IEEE Transactions on Geosciences and Remote Sensing, Vol. 40, No. 9, pp. 1895-1903. doi: 10.1109/TGRS.2002.805144
» https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2002.805144
Folgueras, L.C., Alves, M.A. and Rezende, M.C., 2010, "Microwave absorbing paints and sheets based on carbonyl iron and polyaniline: measurement and simulation of their properties", Journal of Aerospace Technology and Management, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 63-70. doi: 10.5028/jatm.2010.02016370
» https://doi.org/10.5028/jatm.2010.02016370
Gama, A.M., 2009, "Comportamento da permissividade e permeabilidade complexas, de 2 a 18 GHz, de absorvedores de micro-ondas à base de ferro carbonila e ferrita de MnZn", Ph.D. Thesis, Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil.
Gama, A.M. and Rezende, M.C., 2010, "Complex permeability and permittivity variation of carbonyl iron rubber in the frequency range of 2 to 18 GHz" Journal of Aerospace Technology and Management, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 59-62. doi: 10.5028/jatm.2010.02015962
» https://doi.org/10.5028/jatm.2010.02015962
IEEE, 1989, "IEEE Standard Definitions for Terms for Antennas," IEEE Trans. On Antennas and Propagation, Vol. AP-37, pp. 956-966.
Knott, E.F., Schaeffer, J.F., and Tuley, M.T., 1993, "Radar cross section", Artech House, Boston, USA.
Laverghetta, T.S., 1976, "Microwave measurements and techniques", Artech House, Dedham, Massachusetts, USA. 560 p.
Peixoto, G. G. et al., 2009, "A medium open range radar cross section facility in Brazil," PIERS Online, Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. 381-384.
Silva, V.A. et al., 2009, "Comportamento eletromagnético de materiais absorvedores de micro-ondas baseados em hexaferrita de Ca modificada com íons CoTi e dopada com La", Journal of Aerospace Technology and Management, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 255-263.

Publication Dates

Publication in this collection
Jan-Apr 2011

History

Received
26 Oct 2010
Accepted
15 Feb 2011

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

[1] Alves, M.A., Peixoto, G.G., and Rezende, M.C., 2007a, "Simulations of the radar cross section of a generic air-to-air missile covered with radar absorbent materials", Proceedings of the Microwave and Optoelectronics Conference, IMOC 2007. SBMO/IEEE MTT-S Internacional, pp. 409-412, Salvador, BA, Brazil.

[2] Alves, M.A., Peixoto, G.G. and Rezende, M.C., 2007b, "Orientation of a support pylon used in radar cross section measurements", Proceedings of the Microwave and Optoelectronics Conference, IMOC 2007. SBMO/IEEE MTT-S Internacional, pp. 406-408, Salvador, BA, Brazil.

[3] CADRCS, 2007, "CADRCS - Revolutionary PC based software for radar cross section simulation". Available from: http://www.cadrcs.com
» http://www.cadrcs.com

[4] Essen H. et al, 2002, "On the scattering mechanism of power lines at millimeter-waves", IEEE Transactions on Geosciences and Remote Sensing, Vol. 40, No. 9, pp. 1895-1903. doi: 10.1109/TGRS.2002.805144
» https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2002.805144

[5] Folgueras, L.C., Alves, M.A. and Rezende, M.C., 2010, "Microwave absorbing paints and sheets based on carbonyl iron and polyaniline: measurement and simulation of their properties", Journal of Aerospace Technology and Management, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 63-70. doi: 10.5028/jatm.2010.02016370
» https://doi.org/10.5028/jatm.2010.02016370

[6] Gama, A.M., 2009, "Comportamento da permissividade e permeabilidade complexas, de 2 a 18 GHz, de absorvedores de micro-ondas à base de ferro carbonila e ferrita de MnZn", Ph.D. Thesis, Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil.

[7] Gama, A.M. and Rezende, M.C., 2010, "Complex permeability and permittivity variation of carbonyl iron rubber in the frequency range of 2 to 18 GHz" Journal of Aerospace Technology and Management, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 59-62. doi: 10.5028/jatm.2010.02015962
» https://doi.org/10.5028/jatm.2010.02015962

[8] IEEE, 1989, "IEEE Standard Definitions for Terms for Antennas," IEEE Trans. On Antennas and Propagation, Vol. AP-37, pp. 956-966.

[9] Knott, E.F., Schaeffer, J.F., and Tuley, M.T., 1993, "Radar cross section", Artech House, Boston, USA.

[10] Laverghetta, T.S., 1976, "Microwave measurements and techniques", Artech House, Dedham, Massachusetts, USA. 560 p.

[11] Peixoto, G. G. et al., 2009, "A medium open range radar cross section facility in Brazil," PIERS Online, Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. 381-384.

[12] Silva, V.A. et al., 2009, "Comportamento eletromagnético de materiais absorvedores de micro-ondas baseados em hexaferrita de Ca modificada com íons CoTi e dopada com La", Journal of Aerospace Technology and Management, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 255-263.

Brasil