Reflection of capillary-gravity waves (Q1087399)

The reflection of a capillary-gravity wave by a partially immersed obstacle depends on the conditions applied at the contact line between the free surface of the fluid and the boundary of the obstacle. The contact angle varies with the speed of the contact line relative to the boundary and a simple model of this variation is used to determine the reflection and transmission coefficients for a vertical plane barrier of finite depth. The incident plane wave has its crests parallel to the plate and the fluid is of infinite depth. The varying contact angle requires that energy be dissipated at the edge, and the proportion of the incident energy that is reflected, transmitted and dissipated is also calculated.