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

V059: Meniscus-Driven Modulation of Surface Wave Transmission across a Barrier

A long-studied problem in fluid dynamics is the transmission and reflection of liquid surface waves. However, prior analytical and experimental studies have largely neglected meniscus effects, indicating a need for further investigation. Focusing on these effects, we employ an acoustic measurement approach to systematically measure the wave transmission past a surface-piercing barrier. Both the meniscus deformation and surface wave frequency alter the transmitted wave amplitude. One novel observation is the enhancement of transmission when raising the small-slope meniscus compared to the suppression due to the large-slope meniscus before the barrier detaches from the liquid surface-a phenomenon not predicted by existing theoretical models. We interpret that the water column formed from the meniscus enhances coupling and increases wave transmission, whereas a bent meniscus suppresses transmission by constraining the surface motion. These findings reveal how meniscus dynamics govern liquid surface behavior, with implications for fluid control in systems such as open channels for engineering applications. Music: Night wind by Ocean Shiver is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/