A component model approach for the RCS validation of an electrically large open-ended cylindrical cavity

A novel RCS component prediction model approach to producing both fast and accurate scattering from an electrically large open-ended cylindrical cavity (circular cross section) is presented. The component model is a hybrid approach which easily permits individual scattering mechanisms to be coherently combined to produce a high fidelity signature. For this problem, the component model included scattering produced from the interior of the cavity calculated via the waveguide modal approach combined with the scattering produced from the cavity's finite thick rim opening (i.e., annulus) computed via the Method of Moments (MoM) and finally combined with the cavity's external base ring edge diffraction computed via PTD. Narrowband and wideband signature analysis for the circular cylindrical cavity configuration are presented to validate the component prediction model with static range measurements, and another prediction result computed using MoM for X- band frequencies and linear polarization. Excellent agreement is achieved among the data sets: measurement and prediction (component and MoM model).