An approach for simulating SAR images of tanks by using shooting and bouncing rays

The Multi-Bounce (MB) scattering characteristics in SAR image of tanks with floating top give valuable information about the reserve of the tank. In this work, in order to analyze the characteristics of the MB scattering for objects with cavity shape, an approach to simulate by using Shooting and Bouncing Rays (SBR) technique is presented. The MB scattering mechanism is calculated by using ray perspective, and the approximate focus positions of the MB rays are approximately deduced according to imaging formation progress. By using this method, the simulated SAR image is obtained by avoiding the calculation of the 2-D scattered field. The characteristics of the simulated results show agreement with the Terra-SAR data of the tanks with floating top.