Wave deformation by a submerged flexible circular disk

The interaction of incident monochromatic waves with a tensioned, flexible, circular membrane submerged horizontally below free surface is investigated in the frame of three-dimensional linear hydroelastic theory. The velocity potential is split into two parts, i.e. the diffraction potential representing the scattering of incident waves by a rigid circular disk and the radiation potential describing motion induced waves by elastic responses of the flexible membrane. The fluid domain is divided into three regions, and the diffraction and radiation potentials in each region are expressed by the Fourier-Bessel series. The displacement of the circular membrane is expanded with a set of natural functions, which satisfy the membrane equation of motion and boundary conditions. The unknown coefficients in each region are determined by applying the continuity of pressure and normal velocity at the matching boundaries. The results show that various types of wave focusing are possible by controlling the size, submergence depth, and tension of the membrane. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.