Hydroelastic waves induced by initial disturbances in ice-covered waters with currents

Area of Science:

• Fluid dynamics
• Geophysics
• Solid mechanics

Background:

• Ice-covered fluids generate complex wave phenomena.
• Uniform currents significantly alter wave propagation characteristics.
• Flexural rigidity of ice impacts surface wave dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate flexural-gravity wave generation in an infinite-depth fluid.
• Analyze the influence of uniform currents and ice cover properties.
• Examine two distinct initial disturbance types: initial displacement and impulsive load.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Laplace and Fourier transformations for precise integral representation.
• Applied the stationary phase technique for asymptotic evaluation over large time and distance.
• Examined effects of flexural rigidity and current speed on wave depression.

Main Results:

• Depression height increases with rising current speed.
• Increased ice cover rigidity substantially decreases displacement amplitude.
• Impulsive loading results in significantly larger depression amplitude than initial displacement.

Conclusions:

• Wave generation in ice-covered fluids is sensitive to current and ice properties.
• The nature of initial disturbance critically affects wave amplitude.
• Findings provide insights into geophysical fluid dynamics and ice mechanics.