Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

Publication Date

6-11-1958

Abstract

The study of ground-to-air terrain return is necessary in order to understand the functioning of radar altimeters.

Radar return at vertical incidence can be considered to be composed of two components. One, whic his returned by a mirror-like action, is called the specular component. The other, termed scatter, is due to diffuse rerediation from individual scatterers on the ground.

In recent work on return from angles near vertical, more attention has been given to the scatter component than many had previously assumed necessary.

Procedure for Gathering Data:

Two pulse radar units were used, one having a frequency of 3.8 KMC, and the other 415 MC. These will be referred to as the "high" and "low" frequency units. The transmitter and receiver were airborne and utilized the same antenna. The returned pulse train was photographed on a pulse-to-pulse basis as displayed on a scope during a run. From semi-automatic measuring of these films, frequency spectra and average power return pulses were plotted. Flight logs gave the altitude and velocity of the aircraft as well as the peak power transmitted.

Sponsors

Sandia Corporation, National Science Foundation

Document Type

Thesis

Language

English

Degree Name

Electrical Engineering

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Electrical and Computer Engineering

First Committee Member (Chair)

Richard Kerr Moore

Second Committee Member

Wayne Willis Grannemann

Third Committee Member

Marshall Elmer Farris

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