Category:Simple Linear Waves

Introduction

The principle topic of this wiki is linear water waves, however other simpler linear wave systems are discussed in some detail, especially as they relate to water wave problems.

Waves on a variable density string / waves on variable depth shallow water

The equation is

subject to the initial conditions

where [math]\displaystyle{ \zeta }[/math] is the displacement, [math]\displaystyle{ \rho }[/math] is the string density and [math]\displaystyle{ h(x) }[/math] is the variable depth (note that we are unifying the variable density string and the wave equation in variable depth because the mathematical treatment is identical).

The problem on waves on a string of variable density is closely related to water wave equation and is discussed in detail in Variable Depth Shallow Water Wave Equation.

[math]\displaystyle{ $\phi$ }[/math]

Waves on a Variable Beam

There are various beam theories that can be used to describe the motion of the beam. The simplest theory is the Bernoulli-Euler Beam theory (other beam theories include the Timoshenko Beam theory and Reddy-Bickford Beam theory where shear deformation of higher order is considered). For a Bernoulli-Euler Beam, the equation of motion is given by the following

where [math]\displaystyle{ \beta(x) }[/math] is the non dimensionalised flexural rigidity, and [math]\displaystyle{ \gamma }[/math] is non-dimensionalised linear mass density function. Note that this equations simplifies if the plate has constant properties (and that [math]\displaystyle{ h }[/math] is the thickness of the plate, [math]\displaystyle{ p }[/math] is the pressure and [math]\displaystyle{ \zeta }[/math] is the plate vertical displacement) .

The edges of the plate can satisfy a range of boundary conditions. The natural boundary condition (i.e. free-edge boundary conditions).

at the edges of the plate.

The problem is subject to the initial conditions

The solution for this is discuss in Waves on a Variable Beam