Numerical Computation of the Radar Cross Section of the ZSU-23-4

Abstract

A computer geometry model of the ZSU-23-4 (a quad 23-mm self-propelled antiaircraft gun) was obtained in Ballistic Research Laboratory-Computer Aided Design (BRL-CAD), a combinatorial solid geometry-based modeling system. The BRL-CAD file served as input to a software package (ECLECTIC) that generated a flat, triangular, all-metal facet representation of the ZSU exterior structure, containing approximately 78,000 facets. The facet model served as input to Xpatch, a high-frequency signature prediction code based on the shooting and bouncing ray (SBR) technique. Xpatch was run at the Defense Intelligence Agency, High Performance Computing Center with several Silicon Graphics, Inc. (SGI), Origin, Onyx, and Challenge machines that used 426 CPUs and 60 Gflops of computing power. The configuration parameters for the ZSU model, both with and without a perfect metal ground plane, included two depression angles (12° and 30°), both polarizations, 256 frequencies (about each center frequency), and azimuth steps of 0.05° (for X-band) and 0.015° (for K a -band). The configuration parameters were selected based on measurement data taken on a ZSU vehicle at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory Aberdeen Proving Ground test facility. The model predictions will include radar cross-section data as a function of polarization and angle and synthetic aperture radar images. This report details the Abstract preliminary results from the computer modeling.ii 1

SAR Image Generation of Ground Targets for Automatic Target Recognition Using Indirect Information

“…Acquisition by measurement is almost impossible when attempting to generate a target database for ATR requirements because many targets can belong to potential enemies. Therefore, a method for predicting SAR images by applying computational electromagnetics (CEM) methods to highly sophisticated three-dimensional (3D) computer-aided design (CAD) models of the targets has been developed as an alternative [9]- [13]; further, this alternative method can cope with various operating conditions [14]. The existence of accurate and detailed 3D CAD models of targets and welldesigned, verified, CEM algorithms are critical elements for using this simulation method to construct a target database.…”