Approximate solution of the problem of scattering of surface water waves by a partially immersed rigid plane vertical barrier

The problem of scattering of two dimensional surface water waves by a partially immersed rigid plane vertical barrier in deep water is re-examined. The associated mixed boundary value problem is shown to give rise to an integral equation of the first kind. Two direct approximate methods of solution are developed and utilized to determine approximate solutions of the integral equation involved. The all important physical quantity, called the Reflection Coefficient, is evaluated numerically, by the use of the approximate solution of the integral equation. The numerical results, obtained in the present work, are found to be in an excellent agreement with the known results, obtained earlier by Ursell (1947), by the use of the closed form analytical solution of the integral equation, giving rise to rather complicated expressions involving Bessel functions.