Determination of the acoustic radiation force in acoustic levitators

• Grant number: 15/07684-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2015
• End date: July 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Electrical Engineering - Electrical, Magnetic and Electronic Measurements, Instrumentation
• Principal Investigator: Marco Aurélio Brizzotti Andrade
• Grantee: Alexandre dos Santos Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física (IF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The objective of this research proposal is to determine the acoustic radiation force in acoustic levitators. The acoustic radiation force that acts on a small sphere will be determined by using the Gor'kov theory, which says that the sphere is attracted to regions of minimum acoustic pressure and maximum fluid velocity. First, the acoustic radiation force will be determined analytically in levitators with rectangular, cylindrical and spherical geometries. Then, the Finite Element Method in combination with the Gor'kov theory will be applied to obtain the acoustic radiation force in single-axis acoustic levitators. The numerical acoustic radiation force will be compared with the force obtained experimentally.