SCATTERING FROM THIN DIELECTRIC STRAPS SURROUNDING A PERFECTLY CONDUCTING STRUCTURE

Dielectric straps can support very heavy targets and have low backscat tering levels, especially at low frequencies (below 8 GHz); thus, they can be used effectively to support targets during backscattered field measurements. In this paper, the scattered fields of nonmagnetic diel ectric straps surrounding a perfectly conducting structure are present ed, and the computed results are compared with experimental data. Empi rical formulas for the strap scattered fields are also given. These fo rmulas are good for general convex structures whose radii of curvature are large compared with the wavelength and are expected to give a rea sonable estimate of the true backscattered fields from the dielectric straps when used as a target support structure.