Wave scattering by an array of moored floating flexible plates resting on an elastic foundation in the reference of blocking dynamics

Abstract

Surface gravity wave scattering by an array of floating flexible plates having free/moored edges and resting on a Winkler foundation are studied within the framework of flexural gravity wave blocking. The impact of the floating plates having moored edges compared to that of free edges along with the occurrences of Bragg reflection are analyzed. The study reveals that wave reflection is oscillatory in nature irrespective of the number of plates. Further, the amplitude of wave reflection increases for smaller frequency and decreases for higher frequency in the presence of Winkler foundation. The study depicts the occurrences of removable discontinuities at the blocking frequencies and the existence of a smaller number of extrema in wave reflection outside the blocking limits than within the said limits. Besides, the number of sub-harmonic peaks between two consecutive harmonic peaks in wave reflection depends on the wave frequency, plate length and gap between the consecutive plates. Moreover, the free surface elevations and the floating plate deflections exhibit certain irregularity within the blocking frequencies. The free surface elevation and floating plate deflection in the presence of compressive force wave blocking exhibit the recurrence of scattering of wave pulses in the linear time domain.