Digital Commons Network^™

A Diffraction Model For Prediction Of Radar Signal Attenuation By A Rocket Exhaust Plume, Douglas Harrison Sphar

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This report documents the development of a method of estimating the signal attenuation induced by a rocket exhaust plume. The method is applicable to the early system design phase of high energy solid propellant rockets that produce highly ionized exhaust plumes. The method is based on the premise that when a plume is highly ionized, observed signal levels can be explained by assuming the signal propagates around the plume. A simple diffraction at a straight edge model is developed and compared to measured data. The report also provides an overview of exhaust plume electromagnetics and surveys prediction techniques.