Transient Free Surface Flow Past a Two-dimensional Flat Stern

Abstract

A transient free surface flow past a two-dimensional semi-infinite flat plate in the fluid of a finite depth is considered in the linear approximation. It is assumed that the fluid is inviscid and incompressible and the flow is irrotational. The plate is suddenly submerged at relatively small depth below the free surface into the fluid uniformly moving with a constant velocity. The linearized problem is solved for relatively small Froude numbers F < 1 using the Laplace and Fourier transforms, as well as the Wiener–Hopf technique. It is shown that eventually at large time, the transient solution approaches asymptotically the steady-state solution. Peculiarities of the solution obtained are discussed and illustrated graphically.