This study investigates the hydrodynamic performance and wave energy extraction capabilities of an articulated floating plate wave energy converter (WEC) consisting of multiple hinged segments. Using linear potential flow theory and the boundary element method (BEM), we solve the boundary-value problem in two equivalent formulations: the velocity potential and the hydrodynamic pressure. The articulated structure is modelled using generalised modes that capture the relative rotations at the hinges. For power absorption, a linear power take-off (PTO) system is assumed at each hinge, and analytical expressions for the optimal absorbed power are derived for two-segment configurations. Numerical validations against experimental data for a single plate and benchmark solutions for hinged systems demonstrate the accuracy of the implementation. Results for a two-segment plate reveal a strong dependence of optimal capture efficiency on hinge position, with peak values exceeding unity when the hinge is shifted toward the upwave side, following the zero-crossing locus of the imaginary part of the intrinsic admittance. These findings highlight the importance of hinge placement for maximising energy extraction in raft-type WECs.
Liang et al. (Sun,) studied this question.