The importance of accurate surface models in RCS computations

The authors investigate the magnitude of the errors in the scattering cross section made by approximating 2-D targets by flat segments and by quadratic splines. These results were compared to computations using exact representations of the surface. A research program for scattering computation called Fast Scat was instrumental in computing the results. The importance of precise surface models for computing accurate scattering amplitudes and radiation patterns is shown. For the particular example of TM (transverse magnetic) scattering from an infinite PEC (perfectly electrically conducting) circular cylinder, the error made in approximating the surface by linear segments or quadratic splines was computed.<>