Scattering from thin dielectric straps surrounding a perfectly conducting structure

Dielectric straps can support very heavy targets and have low backscattering 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 dielectric straps surrounding a perfectly conducting structure are presented, and the computed results are compared with experimental data. Empirical formulas for the strap scattered fields are also given. These formulas are good for general convex structures whose radii of curvature are large compared with the wavelength and are expected to give a reasonable estimate of the true backscattered fields from the dielectric straps when used as a target support structure.