hydroelasticity

Hydroelasticity is the study of how flexible or elastic structures interact with fluids, typically water, when they come into contact. It focuses on understanding how the structure deforms under fluid forces and how those deformations, in turn, influence the fluid flow. This interplay is crucial in designing ships, underwater vehicles, and flexible marine structures, ensuring stability and safety. Essentially, hydroelasticity blends fluid dynamics and elasticity to analyze how soft or flexible surfaces behave in water environments, capturing the mutual influence between fluid forces and structural deformation.