The diffraction of surface waves by a floating elastic plate at oblique incidence

The diffraction of plane surface waves by a floating semi-infinite elastic plate at oblique incidence in a fluid of finite depth is investigated. An exact solution of this problem is constructed by the Wiener-Hopf method. Analytic formulae for the velocity potential of the liquid and for the reflection and transmission coefficients are obtained. The behaviour of the plate on the waves, namely, the distribution of the displacements and deformations as a function of the dimensionless parameters of the problem, such as the angle of incidence and the reduced stiffness and depth, is investigated. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.