Reflection and transmission of plane waves at an interface of water/porous sediment with underlying solid substrate

Ocean floor is usually covered with porous marine sediment. The wave reflection and transmission at the interface separating semi-infinite ocean and porous sediment has been extensively investigated in the last three decades. This paper focuses on the wave propagation at the ocean–porous sediment interface with underlying solid substrate. The analytical solutions for the plane wave reflection and transmission in the coupled water–porous sediment–solid substrate system are obtained in terms of displacement potentials. Based on the derived theoretical formulation, the wave reflection and transmission coefficients at the water/porous sediment interface are examined numerically with various incident angles, excitation frequencies, and sandwiched sediment depths. In addition, the energy dissipation effects of the porous sediment and the flow condition at the porous/solid interface are investigated. The results show that the porous sediment layer has a significant effect on the reflected wave in the overlying water.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► We theoretically derived a solution for wave reflection in ocean floor with sediment.
► The existence of sediment significantly affects the reflected wave in ocean.
► The underlying substrate becomes negligible if sediment exceeds a critical depth.