Interaction of flexural-gravity waves in ice cover with vertical walls

Diffraction of flexural-gravity waves in an ice cover by a bottom mounted structure with vertical walls is studied. The problem is solved by using the so-called vertical modes corresponding to the roots of the dispersion relation for flexural-gravity waves. These modes reduce the original three-dimensional problem to a set of two-dimensional diffraction problems with non-homogeneous boundary conditions on the rigid walls. Two unknown functions presenting in the boundary conditions for each mode are determined using the conditions at the contact line between the ice cover and the vertical walls. The clamped conditions at the contact line, where the ice cover is frozen to the wall, are considered in this study. The solution of the problem is obtained for a single vertical circular cylinder frozen in the ice cover. A general approach to the problem for vertical cylinders of any shapes is presented. The diffraction problems with vertical walls extended to infinity are discussed. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Modelling of sea-ice phenomena’.