Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 9, 2026

Induction of Microstreaming by Nonspherical Bubble Oscillations in an Acoustic Levitation System
Published on: May 9, 2021
Hovering of an Actively Driven Fluid-Lubricated Foil
Stephane Poulain1, Timo Koch1, L Mahadevan2,3
1University of Oslo, Department of Mathematics, 0851 Oslo, Norway.
A theoretical framework explains how a harmonically excited elastic foil hovers near a wall. This study quantifies the foil’s dynamic deformation and fluid flow coupling, predicting hovering height and weight capacity.
Area of Science:
- Fluid dynamics
- Soft matter physics
- Robotics
Background:
- Recent experiments show elastic foils hovering near walls while supporting weight.
- Understanding the physics of soft materials interacting with fluids is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a theoretical framework for harmonically excited elastic foils near a wall.
- To quantify the coupling between foil deformation and fluid flow.
- To predict hovering height and load-bearing capacity.
Main Methods:
- Elastohydrodynamic lubrication theory.
- Mathematical modeling of foil-fluid interaction.
- Numerical simulations of governing equations.
Main Results:
- The soft foil rectifies reversible forcing, breaking time-reversal symmetry.
- The spatial distribution of forcing dictates attraction or repulsion from the wall.
- A scaling law predicts equilibrium hovering height and maximum sustained weight.
Conclusions:
- The theoretical framework accurately describes foil hovering near a wall.
- Predictions align with experimental observations and numerical simulations.
- Findings may explain biological phenomena and inform soft robotics design.
More Related Videos
07:18Measuring the Interaction Force Between a Droplet and a Super-hydrophobic Substrate by the Optical Lever Method
Published on: June 14, 2019
10:06Microfluidic Fabrication Techniques for High-Pressure Testing of Microscale Supercritical CO2 Foam Transport in Fractured Unconventional Reservoirs
Published on: July 2, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Steady, Laminar Flow Between Parallel Plates
Design Example: Deciding Thickness of Lubricating Fluid in a Shaft
To calculate the required thickness of the lubricant layer, the tangential velocity at the shaft's surface must first be determined. This velocity is calculated by converting the rotational speed to angular velocity...
Fluid Pressure over Flat Plate of Variable Width
The pressure distribution on the plate can be calculated by determining the force that acts on a differential area strip of the plate. Thus, the magnitude of the force is equal to the...
Fluid Pressure over Flat Plate of Constant Width
The resultant force...
Fluid Pressure over Curved Plate of Constant Width
Hydrostatic Pressure Force on a Plane Surface