Wave transformation due to floating thick elastic plate over multiple stepped bottom topography

Abstract

The wave transformation due to floating elastic plate is studied over multiple stepped bottom topography. The behaviour of the flexible floating plate is studied considering Timoshenko-Mindlin's plate thick theory at finite water depth and the edge conditions for the floating plates are considered to be free-free support condition. The mathematical model is developed based on the eigenfunction expansion method to study the hydroelastic behaviour of a floating thick elastic plate at varying water depths, step thickness and plate sizes acted upon by ocean wave. The mode coupling relation is employed along with orthogonality relation and the continuity equations for velocity, pressure, deflection, bending moment, slope and shear force to determine the wave characteristics in reflection and transmission region due to variable bottom topography. The numerical computation is carried out to obtain the hydroelastic behaviour of floating elastic plate acted upon by ocean waves. Further, detail comparison of the numerical results is performed for different step bottom topography for the hydroelastic analysis of floating thick elastic plate. The present study will provide an insight into the effect of seabed profile due to the wave scattering from a large floating thick elastic plate at finite water depth. � Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.