The plane unsteady problem of a wave impact on the bow end of a catama
ran wet deck is considered. The wet deck is modeled by a Euler beam. A
t the initial instant of time, the wave crest touches the beam edge. I
n order to describe the beam deflection and the liquid flow, the metho
d of normal modes and the Wagner approach are used. The present analys
is focuses on the method of treating this coupled problem and the esti
mations of its applicability. Preliminary numerical calculations revea
l that the interaction of the beam deflection and the liquid flow may
lead to hydrodynamic pressures which are higher than those for a rigid
wet deck.