A wire-grid model for scattering by conducting bodies

A point-matching solution is developed for scattering by conducting bodies of arbitrary shape. Numerical results are included for the backscatter echo area of circular and square wire loops, circular and square plates, spheres, and hemispheres. The results show good agreement with experimental data. An efficient calculation procedure is achieved by using a wire-grid model instead of a continuous conducting surface. A system of linear equations is generated by enforcing the boundary conditions at the center of each wire segment of the grid, and a digital computer is employed to solve these equations for the currents on the segments. Then it is straightforward to calculate the distant scattered field and the echo area.