Electromagnetic Scattering and ISAR Imaging Simulation of Sea Surface Ship Targets

In practical applications, electromagnetic simulation methods have become crucial for ISAR imaging research of complex environments and targets in maritime target detection, due to the prohibitive costs of field testing and the difficulty in acquiring real-world radar measurement data. This paper presents a ship model constructed using 3D modeling software, with rough sea surfaces modeled through FEKO's built-in sea surface modeling tool and the Pierson-Moskowitz (PM) sea spectrum. The electromagnetic scattering characteristics of the ship model with/without rough sea surfaces were calculated and analyzed using the Physical Optics (PO) method in the FEKO electromagnetic simulation software. A comparative study was conducted on the radar cross section (RCS) impacts of two types of rough sea surfaces on the ship model under identical sea conditions and wind speeds. Subsequently, ISAR imaging was performed using the simulated reflected field data. This work provides modeling methodologies and comparative results for electromagnetic simulations of maritime targets, holding significant implications for electromagnetic simulation modeling of sea surface targets.