Weakly nonlinear oscillations of nearly inviscid axisymmetric liquid bridges

A weakly nonlinear analysis is presented of the small oscillations of nearly inviscid liquid bridges subjected to almost resonant axial vibrations of the disks. An amplitude equation is derived for the evolution of the complex amplitude of the oscillations that exhibits hysteresis and period doublings. We also analyse the steady streaming in the bulk forced by the oscillatory boundary layers near the disks; the boundary layer near the free surface produces no forcing terms. In particular some experimentally observed patterns are explained, and some new, non-observed ones are predicted. We conclude that the structure of this steady flow is not the appropriate one to counterbalance steady thermocapillary convection, but our results indicate how to get the desired counterbalancing effect.