Absence of surface mode in a visco-elastic material with surface tension

TL;DR

This paper investigates surface waves in visco-elastic materials with surface tension, revealing that surface modes are absent when surface tension dominates unless viscous effects conceal elastic stresses, leading to suppressed surface oscillations.

Contribution

It demonstrates the non-existence of surface oscillation modes in certain visco-elastic regimes with surface tension using the Voigt-Kelvin model.

Findings

Surface modes do not exist when surface tension exceeds elastic stress effects.

Surface oscillations are suppressed and diffuse into the bulk after pulse input.

Viscous stress can mask elastic effects, affecting surface wave behavior.

Abstract

The surface waves in the visco-elastic media with the surface tension are studied using the Voigt-Kelvin model of the visco-elasticity. It is shown that the surface mode of oscillation does not exist in the parameter region where the effect of surface tension is larger than that of the elastic stress at the surface unless the viscous stress masks the elastic stress in the bulk. In the region, the surface oscillation is suppressed and the oscillation beneath the surface diffuses after the pulse goes into the bulk. The experimental relevance of the present results is also discussed.