Hydroelastic waves induced by initial disturbances in ice-covered waters with currents

This study investigates the generation of flexural-gravity waves in an infinite-depth fluid covered by an ice in the presence of a uniform current. Two distinct types of initial disturbances are considered: an imposed initial displacement and an impulsive load applied at the ice-covered surface. After obtaining a precise integral representation for the resultant ice-cover displacement by Laplace and Fourier transformations, the stationary phase technique is utilized to evaluate it asymptotically over large time and distance. The effects of the flexural rigidity of the ice cover and the uniform current on the amplitude and propagation characteristics of the depression are examined for different parameter regimes. The findings demonstrate that while the depression height rises with increasing current speed, increasing the rigidity of the ice cover considerably decreases the displacement amplitude. For impulsive loading, the depression amplitude is much larger compared with the case of initial displacement.