Investigation of range profiles from buried 3-D object based on the EM simulation

The 1-D range profiles are suitable features for target identification and target discrimination because they provide discriminative information on the geometry of the target. To resolve features of the buried target, the contribution from individual scattering centers of the buried target in the range profiles need to be identified. Thus, the study of complex scattering mechanisms from which the range profiles are produced is of great importance. In order to clearly establish the relationship between the range profile characteristics and the complicated electromagnetic (EM) scattering mechanisms, such as reflections and diffractions, a buried cuboid possessing straight edges is chosen as the buried target in this paper. By performing an inverse discrete Fourier transform (IDFT) on the wideband backscattered field data computed with an accurate and fast EM method, the 1-D range profiles of the buried cuboid is successfully simulated. The simulated range profiles provide information about the position and scattering strength of the cuboid's scattering centers along the range direction. Meanwhile, a predicted distribution of the scattering centers is quantitatively calculated for the buried cuboid based on the ray path computation. Good agreement has been found between simulated and predicted locations of the range profiles. Validation for amplitudes of the range profiles is further provided in the research. Both the peak amplitudes and locations of the range profiles could be understood and analyzed based on the knowledge of the scattering mechanisms. The formation of the 1-D range profiles has been revealed clearly from the full analysis of the scattering mechanisms and contributions. The problem has been solved for both near and far field regions. Finally, the buried depth and the characteristic size of the object are reasonably deduced from the simulated range profiles.