< >

ykwag@kau.ac.kr

Lecture 5 : Targets and Clutter

Objective

Radar Cross Section

Target Fluctuation

Clutter
Clutter

RCS Definition and Fundamentals

RCS Fluctuation
Target Fluctuation Models
RCS of Fundamental Shapes
RCS of Complex Objects
Interfering Signals-Noise
Radar Clutter Model
Surface Clutter Characteristics
Volume Clutter Characteristics
Moving Clutter
Doppler Spectrum
Reference

(Prof. Kwag)

Korea Aerospace Univ.

Part I : Radar Target

(Prof. Kwag)

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.1 RCS Definition and Fundamentals

RCS Definition
- Target RCS (Radar Cross Section) is defined as the ratio of its effective
isotropically reflected power to the incident power density

Reflected power Unit solid angle

Incident power Unit area

- RCS measures the targets reflection of signals in the direction of the

radar receiving antenna

backscatter, which is the only reflected energy from the target to the radar
Ptgt

PT GT

2
4 RT

Backscatter
P Ptgt
(Prof. Kwag)

Ptgt the effective power reflected by the target

in the direction of the radar( watts )

PT GT
1
1

4 RR2 4 RR2 4 RR2

4

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.1 RCS Definition and Fundamentals

Mode of Radar Cross Section

< Mode of Radar Cross Section >

(Prof. Kwag)

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.1 RCS Definition and Fundamentals

RCS Dependence on Shape and Angle

< RCS Dependence on Shape & Orientation >

(Prof. Kwag)

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.1 RCS Definition and Fundamentals

RCS Components
Atgt : area of the target

tgt : reflectivity of the target at the polization of the radar

Gtgt : gain of the target in the direction of the radar

Atgt tgt Gtgt

(unit square meter)

Target Field Zone

Far field distance
RFF

2D 2

where D target' s liner extent normal to the axis of the radar ant.

(Prof. Kwag)

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.2 RCS Fluctuation

RCS Fluctuation
- Amplitude fluctuation : scintillation = variations in received echo power
- Phase fluctuation : glint = wave fronts echoing from the target
<* Note : Non-glinting far field targets reflect planar waves>

Fluctuation speed
- slow fluctuation : time constant is greater than dwell time, vary from scan to scan
- rapid fluctuation : varies from pulse to pulse

< Slow and Rapid Fluctuations >

(Prof. Kwag)

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.2 RCS Fluctuation

Fluctuation Mechanism
- Fluctuation of extended target (single far field target)

total RCS is the vector sum of the all small elemental scatterers
RCS depends on the targets aspect angle
different angles cause different summations
vector sum negative
zero no reflection

< Fluctuations of a Single Extended Scatterer >

(Prof. Kwag)

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.2 RCS Fluctuation

- Fluctuation of array of scatterers vs. aspect

depends on the aspect angle from which a complex target of many

scatterers is viewed
(EX) aircraft target RCS
: summation of many individual scattering center on target

Total RCS

RCS 1 RCS 2 ....... RCS n

( power term)

- Fluctuation of complex targets as a function of freq.

depends on the viewing a target at different frequencies

Notes
spacing of the scatterers and the wave length
determines the amount of fluctuation for a given freq.

The wider the spacing, the greater the RCS fluctuation with small freq. change
(Prof. Kwag)

10

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.2 RCS Fluctuation

- RCS Dependence Angle and Frequency of 3 GHz

< Aspect Dependence of RCS for Complex Target >

< Frequency Dependence of RCS >

(Prof. Kwag)

11

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.2 RCS Fluctuation

- Fluctuation from multi-path

< Target Fluctuation Caused by Multipath>

from signal path : d-d, d-r, r-d, r-r

As the range changes, the sum of four signals changes
* Note : RCS varies from zero to 16 times.

(Prof. Kwag)

12

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.3 Target Fluctuation Models

Marcum / Swerling Models
[Ref]
- Marcum : A Statistical Theory of Detection by Pulsed Radar
IRE Tr. Vol. IT-6, PP.59-267, Apr, 1960
- Swerling : Probability of Detection for Fluctuating Targets
IRE Tr. Vol. IT-6, PP.269-308, Apr, 1960

Swerling case 0 and case 5

- non fluctuating target
- modeled as single isotropic scatterers
- targets size << wave length of radar

(Prof. Kwag)

13

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.3 Target Fluctuation Models

Swerling case 1
- slowly fluctuating target (large fluctuation, scan to scan)
- modeled as several scatterers, equal RCS
- little aspect change over a look
(Ex) Aircraft target without pulse-to-pulse freq. agility

Swerling case 2
-

rapidly fluctuating target, large fluctuation

modeled as case 1
aspect angle is rapidly changing
complex target for pulse-to-pulse freq. Agility

(Prof. Kwag)

14

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.3 Target Fluctuation Models

Swerling case 3
- slowly fluctuation target, small fluctuation
- modeled as one prominent scatterer with several scatterers
(ex.missile)
- aspect angle changes are small(scan to scan) over a look

Swerling case 4

- same as case 3
- rapidly fluctuating target
- rapid aspect angle changes or from radar freq. change agility

(Prof. Kwag)

15

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.3 Target Fluctuation Models

RCS Case Changes through Target Argumentation

Small Target

Large Single RCS Scatterer

Target case 3 & 4 model

(case 1&2 model)

(Prof. Kwag)

16

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.4 RCS of Fundamental Shapes

Sphere RCS vs. Frequency

- If wavelength << circumference, spheres RCS = Optical cross-section

- If wavelength >= circumference,

resonance case : circumference = 0.5 10 times wavelength

RCS varies from 0.3 3.5 times optical cross section
called MIE region
- wavelength >> circumference, RCS ratio = (kr) power of 4 called
Rayleigh scattering region

(Prof. Kwag)

17

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.4 RCS of Fundamental Shapes

RCS of Fundamental Shapes
RCS of Fundamental Shapes
(Adapted from Barton)

(Prof. Kwag)

18

Korea Aerospace Univ.

RCS of Fundamental Shape-I

(a) Sphere RCS
sigma = pi.d2 /4 (equation. 4.8)
where d = spheres diameter

Cylinder RCS
the circumference & length

cylinder area A dL
peak broadside radar cross section of cylinder

CYL d L2

for conducting cylinder RCS in terms of freq.

CYL f d L2 c

Flat plate RCS

FP 4 A2 2

(Prof. Kwag)

4 f 2 A2 c 2

19

Korea Aerospace Univ.

RCS of Fundamental Shape-II

peak value of 0.882 occurs when d
2

CR 4a 2 (32 ) ,

for triangular

peak RCS lobe much wider than the plate. so, used for target argumentor.
accidently, high RCS from intersection of a wing & fuselage of an aircraft

device which reflect power in the direction from which it arrived .

wide main lobe.

LL 4A2 2
100% reflection
Corner reflector principle
RSP Lab

Hankuk Aviation Univ.

(Prof. Kwag)

20

Korea Aerospace Univ.

Luneburg Lens Principle

(Prof. Kwag)

21

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.4 RCS of Fundamental Shapes

Triangular Corner Reflector RCS

(Prof. Kwag)

22

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.5 RCS of Complex Objects

RCS of Complex Object

< T-33A Aircraft >

(Prof. Kwag)

23

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.5 RCS of Complex Objects

< T-33A Aircraft at 425MHz >

< T-33A Aircraft at 3.0 GHz >

(Prof. Kwag)

24

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.5 RCS of Complex Objects

Hypothetical RCS Data

(Prof. Kwag)

25

Korea Aerospace Univ.

Part II : Radar Clutter

(Prof. Kwag)

26

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.6 Radar Clutter Model

Definition
- Clutter is a term used to describe, any object that generate
unwanted radar returns that may interfere within normal
radar operation

- Classified into two categories

surface clutter : trees, vegetation, ground terrain,

see surface (see clutter)
volume clutter : chaff, rain, birds, insects

- Note

clutter signal is much higher than the receiver noise level

SCR(Signal to Clutter Ratio)

(Prof. Kwag)

27

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.7 Radar Clutter Model

Radar Clutter Type

Land
mountains
woods
vegetated
farmland
desert
SEA

(Prof. Kwag)

Weather
rain
snow
Chaff
Dust storm

28

Moving vehicles
Birds
Insects
Angles

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.6 Radar Clutter Model

Radar Clutter Characteristics
Reflectivity ( m 2 m 2 or m 2 m 3 )
Spectrum shape and width (e.g. Gaussian)
Average doppler shift (radil velocity)
Amplitude fluctuation (Rayleigh, Rician)
Spatial distribution (homogeneous , Log - Normal , Weibull)

(Prof. Kwag)

29

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.6 Radar Clutter Model

Reflectivity
Clutter Reflectivity
Surface clutter(2 D case)

m2
m2

radar cross section

resolution cell area

0 Aarea

Volume clutter(3D case)

m2
m3

radar cross section

resolution cell volume

3 Vvolume

Narrow chaff corridor(1D case)

1
(Prof. Kwag)

m2
m1

radar cross section

linear extent

30

1 Llength
Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.6 Radar Clutter Model

Clutter Environmental Characteristics

(Prof. Kwag)

31

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.6 Radar Clutter Model

Clutter Doppler Characteristics
- Clutter bandwidth
< Summary of Standard Ceviations of the Clutter Spectrum >

(Prof. Kwag)

32

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.6 Radar Clutter Model

Clutter Spectrum Characteristics
- Response of a double canceller MTI to ground, rain and
chaff clutter

(Prof. Kwag)

33

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.7 Surface Clutter Characteristics

Surface Clutter
Area clutter characteristics
Land

Reflectivity
Grazing angle
Amplitude distribution
Spectrl spread

Sea

Sea state(determines reflectivity )

Grazing angle
Velocity spread
Mean velocity
Beam polarization
Amplitude distribution

(Prof. Kwag)

34

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.7 Surface Clutter Characteristics

Radar Equation for Surface Clutter

AC R 3dB

Power received by radar from target

(Prof. Kwag)

Pt G 2 2 t
St
(4 )3 R 4
Pt G 2 2 c
Sc
(4 )3 R 4

Power received from clutter

( SCR ) AC

c
sec g
2

2 t cos g

0 3dB Rc
35

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.7 Surface Clutter Characteristics

Clutter Region
- low grazing angle region
h sin 8

where h : RMS height

critical angle : sin C

hE
4

where

hE : RMS surface height

- plateau region : the scattering is by facets smaller than the wavelength

- high grazing angle region : specular scattering, with diffuse clutter components
disappearing. angle90o as specular mirror, clutter coefficient is larger for
smooth terrain and seas than for rough

< Example of Clutter Regions >

(Prof. Kwag)

36

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.7 Surface Clutter Characteristics

Rough Surface Definition
smooth if

4h

sin g

2
rough path is longer than " smooth path" by a dis tan nce 2hrms sin g .
path difference phase

2hrms sin g

< Rough Surface Definition >

(Prof. Kwag)

37

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.7 Surface Clutter Characteristics

Sea clutter
0 64 6( SS 1) 10 log 10 log(sin g )
2
tan 2 ( 2 g )
0
10 log ctn 0 exp

C
tan 2 0

Sea State ( SS ) : 0 ~ 8 steps ( zero ~ high wave)
wave height , period , length , velocity

Land clutter

tan2 ( B g )
2

0
0 A 10 log 10 log(sin g ) 10 logctn 0 exp

C
2
tan
0

A : 29 for desert ~ 14 for mountain

(Prof. Kwag)

38

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.7 Surface Clutter Characteristics

Rayleigh Distribution
- First sea & land clutter empirically, composed of many
small scatterers with in the resolution cell (not spiky)
P( x)

x
exp( x 2 2 x02 )
2
2 x0

where

for x 0

x : independen t variable normalized to the RMS clutter.

2 x02 : average value of x 2 ( mean)

Log-normal Distribution
- Fits

Some low angle land clutter

High resolution samples of sea clutter

ln x ln xm 2
P( x) x (2 ) exp
for x 0
2
2

where x : independen t variable

x m : median value of x
0.5

(Prof. Kwag)

: standard deviation of ln x
39

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.7 Surface Clutter Characteristics

K-distribution
- For sea clutter
P( x) 2b (v) bx 2 v K v 1 b
where

x : clutter power
K v : modifid e Bessel function of the third kind , vth order
b : scale parameter
v : shape parameter

Weibull distribution
- first low angle clutter in 0.5~5.0 for 1~10GHz
b 1b 1
P( 1 )
a

where

1b
for 1 0
exp

1 : clutter backscatter normalized

b : shape parameter
x : mean clutter cross sec tion

(Prof. Kwag)

40

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.7 Surface Clutter Characteristics

Clutter Doppler Sea & Land
- Sea clutter doppler
standard deviation

V 0.101WS wind speed

V 0.101 10B 0.14SS

B is 0.65 if V and WS are in knots, 0.36 if meters per second
spectral distribution
P(f) 1
1 ( f f C )n

where

n 3, f C half power freq.

- Land clutter doppler

f C 1.33exp(0.0272WS )

standard spectrum Gaussian distributed

for vegetated terrain

V aWSb

a 0.007 for vegetated terrain

b 1.28 for vegetated terrain

P( f ) 1
(Prof. Kwag)

1 ( f

f C )3

Gaussian approximation
41

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.8 Volume Clutter Characteristics

Volume Clutter (weather, chaff, insect & birds)
- Weather clutter

modeled as a very simple elemental scatterers

raindrops modeled as a sphere, co-polarized

summationof the RCS

i (m 2 m 3 )

where

i RCS of the i th scatterers

Total RCS

VI

where VI volume of the resolution cell

Z Di ; reflectivity

where Di diameter of i th drop

- Chaff
artificially generated volume clutter

Chaff 0.152
(Prof. Kwag)

42

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.8 Volume Clutter Characteristics

- Angel clutter (birds, insects, dust)
bi 46 5.8 logWbi
where

bi : RCS of individual birds or insects(dBms)

volume resolution
VW

(Prof. Kwag)

a e R 2 c

43

Korea Aerospace Univ.

5.11 Reference
[1] Radar Cross-Section by E. F. Long, J. F. Shaeffer, and M. T. Tuley,
Artech House, 1985

[2] Radar Reflectivity of Land and Sea by M. W. Long, Artech House, 1983
[3] Handbook of Radar Scattering Statistics for Terrain by F. T. Ulaby and
M. C Dobson, Artech House, 1989
[4] Airborne Early Warning Radar by W.C. Morchin, Artech House, 1990
[5] Radar System Analysis by D. K. Barton, Artech House, 1976
[6] The Scattering of Electromagnetic Waves from Rough Surfaces by P. Beckmann
and A. Spizzichino, Artech House 1987
[7] Introduction to Radar System by I. Katz in M. I. Skolink, McGraw-Hill, 1980

(Prof. Kwag)

44

Korea Aerospace Univ.