Wave motion in a fluid under an inhomogeneous ice cover

This paper studies steady waves in fluid and in semi-infinite ice cover generated by a constant pressure distribution with a rectangular planform moving uniformly along the edge of ice cover at fixed distance. This load simulates the air-cushion vehicle (ACV). We consider two cases: (i) the surface of fluid is free outside of ice sheet, (ii) fluid is bounded by a solid vertical wall and the edge of ice cover can be either clamped or free. The fluid is assumed to be ideal incompressible and of finite depth. The ice sheet is modelled by elastic thin plate. The solution of linear hydroelastic problem is obtained by two methods: the Wiener-Hopf technique and matched eigenfunction expansions. The deflection of ice sheet and free surface elevation, as well as wave forces acting on ACV are investigated for different speeds of motion.