Electromagnetic scattering suppression in a right-angle dihedral structure based on a flexible stealth material

The dihedral structure, commonly found in various targets, exhibits strong backscattering, severely affecting their radar stealth performance. To address this issue, we propose an effective method for suppressing the electromagnetic scattering of dihedral structures using flexible stealth material (FSM) in this study. The electromagnetic scattering model encompassing the dihedral structure and FSM is established to explore the interaction between electromagnetic wave and dihedral structure coated with FSM, and the MLFMM is employed to calculate the monostatic RCS of the model from 8 to 12 GHz. The RCS of the dihedral structure, both before and after being coated with FSM under different loading conditions, is measured in an anechoic chamber. Notably, a relatively good agreement between the results of calculation and measurement is obtained, validating the reliability of the proposed model and calculation method. Furthermore, the effect of loading conditions and electromagnetic parameters of FSM on the RCS of the dihedral structure is investigated based on the proposed model. The results indicate the effectiveness of FSM in reducing the backscattering of dihedral structures. Specifically, when the direction of the incident wave’s electric field is perpendicular to that of undulating units of FSM, FSM reduces the electromagnetic scattering of dihedral structures more significantly. Besides, the real part of FSM’s permittivity and the imaginary of its permeability have a stronger influence on the RCS of dihedral structures. This study provides a useful method for suppressing electromagnetic scattering of dihedral structures and a valuable reference for FSM in practical applications.