Dispersive waves in a coupled system of magnetic fluid and elastic membrane

The transportation mechanisms of fluids and/or solid films proposed in our previous papers are achieved by the coupled waves which propagate along a thin elastic membrane covering a magnetic fluid layer in a shallow and long rectangular vessel. In order to control the propulsion system and to improve its efficiency, it is necessary to adjust the frequency and wavelength of waves by considering the dispersion relation of the coupled system consisting of a magnetic fluid layer and an elastic membrane. In this study, transient coupled waves generated by applying external impulsive magnetic forces on the concentrated small region of the magnetic fluid layer are investigated experimentally and partly analytically. Various dispersive waves are observed depending on the geometrical and physical parameters such as density of the magnetic fluid, depth of the fluid layer and kind and thickness of the membrane.