Range Profile Analysis of the 2-D Target Above a Rough Surface Based on the Electromagnetic Numerical Simulation

In this paper, 1-D range profiles of a 2-D perfect electric conductor (PEC) target above a 2-D PEC rough surface are investigated with numerical solutions for the electric field integral equations (EFIEs) of the combined scattering model. The backscattering is computed accurately by the reradiation of the induced surface currents on the target and the rough surface. Using a stepped frequency waveform (SFW), 1D high-resolution range profiles (HRRPs) of the target above a rough surface are obtained by performing the inverse discrete Fourier transform (IDFT) on the wideband backscattered field. Plots of range profiles show that the multiple interactions between the target and the bottom surface lead to a series of equivalent range profiles, especially when the bottom surface is smooth. Range locations of the equivalent range profiles are in good agreement with the results expected from the ray theory. The range profiles could be understood and analyzed based on the knowledge of the scattering mechanisms. Thus, the connection between the numerically simulated range profiles and the scattering mechanisms is established.