We experimentally investigate the dynamics of surface waves excited by oscillations from a cylindrical sidewall. Particle-imaging-velocimetry measurements with fluorescent particles were used to determine the flow patterns near the sidewall of the cylindrical fluid container and to identify the locations of the evolving air–water interfaces. The high-frequency wall oscillations created four jets that originate at the cylindrical sidewall. Four vortex streets shed from the jets propagate from the sidewall to the centre of the container and subsequently excite a low-frequency gravity wave. The interaction between this gravitational surface wave and the high-frequency capillary waves was found to be responsible for creating droplet splash at the water surface. This phenomenon was first described as ‘Long-Xi’ or ‘dragon wash’ in ancient China. The physical processes for generating the droplet ejection, including the circular capillary waves, azimuthal waves, streaming jets and low-frequency gravity waves, are described in this paper.

The experiment was carried out to study the low frequency surface waves due to the horizontal high frequency excitation. The feature of the phenomenon was that the big amplitude axisymmetric surface wave frequency was typically about 1/50 of the excitation frequency. The viscous effect of water was neglected as a first approximation in the earlier papers on this subject. In contrast, we found the viscosity was important to achieve the low frequency water wave with the cooperation of hundreds of "finger" waves. Photographs were taken with stroboscopic lighting and thereafter relevant quantitative results were obtained based on the measurements with Polytec Scanning Vibrometer PSV 400.

No abstract

Period tripling of standing waves in a circular tank generated by the side-wall excitation is investigated for the first time. With the increasing of forcing acceleration after the appearance of axisymmetric standing wave, period-tripled non-breaking standing waves and violent jet eruption between the modes are observed. However, the physical mechanisms for the generation of the interesting period-tripled standing waves are still unknown and need further research.

No abstract