Understanding the motion of small bodies at a fluid interface has relevance to a range of natural systems and technological applications. In this talk, we discuss two systems where capillarity and fluid inertia govern the dynamics of millimetric particles at a fluid interface.
In the first part, we present a study of superhydrophobic spheres impacting a quiescent water bath. Under certain conditions particles may rebound completely from the interface - an outcome we characterize in detail through a synthesis of experiments, modeling, and direct numerical simulation. In the second half, we introduce a system wherein millimetric disks trapped at a fluid interface are vertically oscillated and spontaneously self-propel. Such "capillary surfers" interact with each other via their collective wavefield and self-assemble into a myriad of cooperative dynamic states. Our experimental observations are well captured by a first theoretical model for their dynamics, laying the foundation for future investigations of this highly tunable active system.
Seminar series
Date
Thu, 10 Jun 2021
Time
13:00 -
14:00
Location
Virtual
Speaker
Daniel Harris
Organisation
Brown University