Water wave interaction with a sphere in a two-layer fluid flowing through a channel of finite depth

Abstract

Using linear water wave theory, we consider a three-dimensional problem involving the interaction of waves with a sphere in a fluid consisting of two layers with the upper layer and lower layer bounded above and below, respectively, by rigid horizontal walls, which are approximations of the free surface and the bottom surface; these walls can be assumed to constitute a channel. The effects of surface tension at the surface of separation is neglected. For such a situation time-harmonic waves propagate with one wave number only, unlike the case when one of the layers is of infinite depth with the waves propagating with two wave numbers. Method of multipole expansions is used to find the particular solutions for the problems of wave radiation and scattering by a submerged sphere placed in either of the upper or lower layer. The added-mass and damping coefficients for heave and sway motions are derived and plotted against various values of the wave number. Similarly the exciting forces due to heave and sway motions are evaluated and presented graphically. The features of the results find good agreement with previously available results from the point of view of physical interpretation.