Ground based radar observations of wind turbines / Chuck Livingstone, Shen Chiu.: D68-2/57-2014E-PDF

Wind turbines are large radar targets whose radar cross sections (RCS) contain both static and dynamic components that are major interference sources for air traffic surveillance radars (ASRs). Investigations in response to a Canadian Air Force support request revealed that currently available wind-turbine RCS models are too primitive to answer the ASR interference questions asked. This report documents the development of a first-order RCS model that uses environmental conditions to replicate the static and dynamic effects present in the radar returns from wind turbines and generates the expected Doppler signatures of wind turbine targets that cause ASR interference effects. The model uses measured data from reference wind turbines and uses published results from detailed electromagnetic scattering models to create a semi-empirical description of a wind turbine target that replicates the target’s properties under all normal operating conditions. The model includes scaling laws that allow it to be used for a wide range of commercial wind turbines whose detailed designs differ from the reference cases used for model development. The model contains a terrain screening filter that allows the radar returns from a partially screened turbine to be replicated for ASR interference analysis. Results obtained from the model closely replicate published, observed effects for wind turbine targets. RCS estimates are judged to be accurate to within 5 dBm2.

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