Wave-current interactions over a partially deformable seabed

TY - JOUR

T1 - Wave-current interactions over a partially deformable seabed

AU - Kostikov, Vasily K.

AU - Hayatdavoodi, Masoud

AU - Ertekin, R. Cengiz

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2026 Author(s).

PY - 2026/7/1

Y1 - 2026/7/1

N2 - This manuscript is concerned with the propagation of nonlinear surface waves and uniform current over a seafloor consisting of combined rigid and deformable muddy sections. In the mathematical model, the deformable seafloor is represented by a thin elastic plate placed on a viscoelastic foundation consisting of viscous dampers and springs. The fluid flow is governed by the Level I Green-Naghdi equations, coupled with the equations of thin plate theory and the viscoelastic foundation to model seabed deformations. The results include interactions between cnoidal waves, uniform currents, and deformable seafloor with varying properties and length. Bottom deformations and the subsequent effects on the wave field are analysed over a range of wave-current-seabed conditions. The results demonstrate the nonlinear effect of a rigid-deformable seafloor on the wave-current field, and the presence of effective coupling between water waves and elastic waves on the deformable seafloor. Modal analysis reveals that the deformable bottom surface oscillates in multiple bending modes, the relative amplitudes of which depend on the length of the deformable seafloor, and the characteristics of the plate and the viscoelastic foundation. It is shown that a partially deformable seabed leads to combined energy attenuation and dissipation, and that wave reflection depends on the ratio of the wavelength to the length of the deformable seafloor region. The presence of current further introduces complexity to the dynamics, and its effect on the seabed response depends not only on the direction and magnitude of the current but also on the wave and bottom conditions.

AB - This manuscript is concerned with the propagation of nonlinear surface waves and uniform current over a seafloor consisting of combined rigid and deformable muddy sections. In the mathematical model, the deformable seafloor is represented by a thin elastic plate placed on a viscoelastic foundation consisting of viscous dampers and springs. The fluid flow is governed by the Level I Green-Naghdi equations, coupled with the equations of thin plate theory and the viscoelastic foundation to model seabed deformations. The results include interactions between cnoidal waves, uniform currents, and deformable seafloor with varying properties and length. Bottom deformations and the subsequent effects on the wave field are analysed over a range of wave-current-seabed conditions. The results demonstrate the nonlinear effect of a rigid-deformable seafloor on the wave-current field, and the presence of effective coupling between water waves and elastic waves on the deformable seafloor. Modal analysis reveals that the deformable bottom surface oscillates in multiple bending modes, the relative amplitudes of which depend on the length of the deformable seafloor, and the characteristics of the plate and the viscoelastic foundation. It is shown that a partially deformable seabed leads to combined energy attenuation and dissipation, and that wave reflection depends on the ratio of the wavelength to the length of the deformable seafloor region. The presence of current further introduces complexity to the dynamics, and its effect on the seabed response depends not only on the direction and magnitude of the current but also on the wave and bottom conditions.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105044926969

U2 - 10.1063/5.0339385

DO - 10.1063/5.0339385

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105044926969

SN - 1070-6631

VL - 38

JO - Physics of Fluids

JF - Physics of Fluids

IS - 7

M1 - 078116

ER -