Three-dimensional divergent waves on a model viscoelastic coating in a potential incompressible fluid flow

Generation of three-dimensional nonlinear waves on a model viscoelastic coating in a potential flow of an incompressible fluid is studied. Periodic nonlinear waves enhanced by the development of quasi-static instability (wave divergence) are considered. The coating is modeled by a flexible flat plate supported by a distributed nonlinearly-elastic spring foundation. Plate flexure is described on the basis of the Karman equations of the theory of thin plates. Perturbations of surface pressure in the potential flow are found in the small slope approximation to an accuracy to terms of the second order of smallness. Numerical simulation reveals a jump-like transition from two-dimensional nonlinear waves to three-dimensional wave structures, which are also observed in experiments.