Reflection and transmission of regular water waves by a thin, floating plate

Measurements of the wave fields reflected and transmitted by a thin floating plastic plate are reported for regular incident waves over a range of incident periods (producing wavelengths comparable to the plate length) and steepnesses (ranging from mild to storm-like). Two different plastics are tested, with different densities and mechanical properties, and three different configurations are tested. The configurations include freely floating plates, loosely moored plates (to restrict drift), and plates with edge barriers (to restrict waves overwashing the plates). The wave fields reflected and transmitted by plates without barriers are shown to become irregular, as the incident waves become steeper, particularly for the denser plastic and the moored plate. Further, the proportion of energy transmitted by the plates without barriers is shown to decrease as the incident wave becomes steeper, and this is related to wave energy dissipation. •Reflection and transmission of waves by thin plate.•Low reflection values when the plate is allowed to drift.•Wave transmission dependent by incident period and amplitude.•Relevant energy dissipation occurring in the presence of water overwash.