Wave-induced hydroelastic response of viscoelastic plates

We investigate the hydroelastic response of a viscoelastic plate floating on water, both experimentally and numerically. In the experimental phase, a scaled-down physical model of the plate is constructed and subjected to various wave conditions in a controlled wave tank environment. Advanced motion tracking techniques measure the plate's deformation and response, providing crucial data for validating numerical simulations. Using the Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian Method with LS-DYNA, numerical simulations explore the plate's response under diverse wave conditions and material dimensions. The results from both approaches are systematically compared and analyzed, revealing insights into the plate's dynamic behavior and wave-induced loads. Additionally, we conduct a comparative study between our response results and wave-ice interaction data from the literature, demonstrating good agreement with hydrodynamic scaling. This validation enhances the confidence in our model's accuracy and strengthens the applicability of our findings to real-world scenarios involving wave-ice and ice-structure interactions. This research significantly contributes to the understanding of the dynamics of offshore structures, maritime engineering, and coastal protection systems, fostering improved design strategies and overall performance through a better comprehension of hydroelastic responses. The knowledge gained from this study may pave the way for the development of innovative engineering solutions, ensuring the resilience and sustainability of ocean structures in challenging environments.