Coupled vibrations of a meniscus and liquid films

International audienceWe investigate the vibration properties of a circular horizontal film, that is bounded by a meniscus (or Plateau border) and suspended to two catenary films. The suspending films act as capillary springs, and the system is thus free to oscillate around its equilibrium position. We study successively its free and forced oscillations. In our experiments, we track simultaneously the positions of the Plateau border and of the film. The model that we present predicts the eigenfrequency of the system, and its resonance characteristics (in forced oscillations). In particular, we show that the dynamics of both the Plateau border and the film have to be taken into account, in order to provide an accurate prediction of the oscillation frequency