Three-dimensional wave scattering by elliptical breakwaters

The diffraction of small-amplitude surface waves by floating and submerged stationary elliptical breakwaters in water of arbitrary uniform depth is investigated analytically. The theoretical formulation leads to solutions for the fluid velocity potential in terms of series of Mathieu and modified Mathieu functions of real argument. Numerical results are presented for the wave-induced forces and moments on the structures, the total and differential scattering cross-sections and the variation of water surface elevation around the breakwater perimeter for a range of wave and structural parameters.