Radar cross section of rectangular flat plates as a function of aspect angle

An investigation of the scattering from rectangular flat plates has been carried out to determine analytical formulations suitable for the estimation of radar cross section. Simple physical optics theory provides an accurate means of predicting the near-specular values of plate cross section but fails to account for polarization dependence and detailed shape of the cross section vs. angle curve in nonspecular regions. Calculations based upon the geometrical theory of diffraction show excellent agreement with measured data except at edge-on aspects. This correspondence stems, in part, from the fact that the geometrical theory of diffraction is polarization dependent. The paper is concluded with an analytical description of vertical polarization cross section at the edge-on aspect derived on the basis of measurement data.