Oblique wave scattering by a semi-infinite elastic plate with finite draft floating on a step topography

On the basis of a potential theory and Euler-Bernoulli beam theory, an analytical solution for oblique wave scattering by a semi-infinite elastic plate with finite draft floating on a step topography is developed using matched eigenfunction expansions. Different from previous studies, the effects of a wave incident angle, a plate draft, three different plate edge conditions (free, simply supported and built-in) and a sea-bottom topography are all taken into account. Moreover, the plate edge conditions are directly incorporated into linear algebraic equations for determining unknown expansion coefficients in velocity potentials, which leads to a simple and efficient solving procedure. Numerical results show that the convergence of the present solution is good, and an energy conservation relation is well satisfied. Also, the present predictions are in good agreement with known results for special cases. The effects of the wave incident angle, the plate draft, the plate edge conditions and the sea-bottom topography on various hydrodynamic quantities are analyzed. Some useful results are presented for engineering designs.