OSCILLATIONS OF A DEFORMED LIQUID-DROP IN AN ACOUSTIC FIELD

The oscillations of an axially symmetric liquid drop in an acoustic st anding wave field in air have been studied using the boundary integral method. The interaction between the drop oscillation and sound field has bees included in this analysis. Our computations focus on the freq uency shift of small-amplitude oscillations of an acoustically deforme d drop typical of a drop levitated in air. In the presence or absence of gravity, the trend and the magnitude of the frequency shift have be en given in terms of drop size, drop deformation, and the strength of the sound field. Our calculations are compared with experiments perfor med on the United States Microgravity Laboratory (USML-1) and with gro und-based measurements, and are found to be in good agreement within t he accuracy of the experimental data. (C) 1995 American Institute of P hysics.