Displacement of droplets and deformation of thin liquid layers using flexural vibrations of structures. Influence of acoustic radiation pressure

In this paper observations concerning some effects of vibrating structures on fluids are presented, followed by a tentative theoretical analysis. Firs t, a brief description of a caterpillar-like structure is made. This struct ure is almost equivalent to an infinite beam which allows the choice of pos itions of the nodal lines of a vibrating mode. Displacement of liquid dropl ets using switching between two modes of this structure is then presented. This phenomenon is supposed to be induced by acoustic radiation pressure. P ossible extensions of this principle are then discussed. After this, result s are reported concerning deformations of thin;liquid layers. (C) 2000 Acou stical Society of America. [S0001-4966(00)06001-X].