Surface wave interaction with floating elastic plates in channels

Abstract

The interaction between surface waves and a finite rectangular floating plate in a channel is considered analytically, while the location of the plate is not restricted. The mathematical model is based on the linear velocity potential flow theory for the fluid and the Kirchhoff–Love plate theory for the plate. The problem is converted into an integral equation through using the Green function. The second-order singularity associated with a body with no thickness is treated with the Dirac delta function. The developed scheme is used for case studies of various edge constraints. Extensive results are provided for the hydrodynamic forces acting on the plate and the wave reflection and transmission coefficients. The effects of wave frequency, channel width, plate length, and edge conditions are analyzed, and their physical implications are highlighted. Significant findings comprise the highly oscillatory nature of force curves, influenced by the natural frequencies of the channels and the length of the plate, and substantial effects of edge conditions and the plate position on the results.