Analysis of electromagnetic scattering characteristics of steps

The variation rule between a single-step plate and its step height was studied by a series of radar cross section (RCS) testings in resonance region and optical region. By changing the height, interval of steps on the multi-step plate and polarization of incidence wave, the relation between scattering and the parameter from multi-step plate was obtained. These curves were compared with a non-step plate and the effects of above parameters on RCS was explored with quantitative analysis. The results show that, the step height increase enhances the scattering for both single step plate and multi-step plate, the RCS curves change more greatly when step the interval is larger and its average increment, and the keep invariable; scattering from multi-step is the coupling of all single-step effects at different phases respectively. When the height of single step and the interval of multi-step increase, their scattering amplitudes of horizontal polarization are higher than that of vertical polarization. All these curves show weakly symmetry in the test. This conclusion can find its application to improve the stealth performance of aircraft.