An experimental analysis of the linear vibration of axisymmetric liquid bridges

The linear vibration of axisymmetric liquid bridges of millimetric size was analyzed experimentally. The equilibrium shape and the evolution of the interface position were recorded by a high-speed video camera. To calculate the surface tension, the Theoretical Image Fitting Analysis method was adapted to process images of liquid bridges at equilibrium. An image processing method was developed to obtain both the position of the solid supports delimiting the liquid bridge and the interface deformation as a function of time. The former allows one to accurately measure the inertial force acting on the liquid bridge. The interface deformation was determined at the subpixel level, so that vibrations of very small amplitude could be analyzed. The results are compared with various theoretical approaches in the linear regime. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.