78th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Fluid Dynamics (Nov 23 — 25, 2025)

P011: Savart's Harp

Authors
  • Chase Gabbard, Brown University
  • Joshua Bostwick , Clemson University
  • Ian Shaver , Clemson University

A liquid jet striking a small target produces a sharply curved sheet. When the impactor is oriented perpendicular to the flow, axisymmetric liquid bells are formed, as first observed by Félix Savart (1833). Breaking the symmetry of the system by orienting the impactor at an angle oblique to the flow and imposing a controlled pressure difference across the interface, we form Savart's Harp. The interface shape consists of a sharp edge that rises up to form a cusp-like singularity. Gradually reducing the flow rate deepens the cusp, allowing the harp to be tuned to its most resonant visual chord.

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