Surface wakes on ultra-soft solids
Abstract
We explore the dynamical response of the free surface of an ultra-soft solid driven by a localized moving pressure disturbance. Experiments reveal a steady V-shaped wake analogous to a surface Mach wedge. A simple geometric argument provides a qualitative explanation consistent with observations. A theoretical framework combining elastodynamic, capillary, and gravitational effects yields a generalized dispersion relation that smoothly interpolates between Kelvin's theory of liquid interface wakes and Rayleigh's theory of elastic surface waves. Together, our experiments and theory reveal the existence of a soft wake regime that bridges fluid and solid surface wave physics, offering new routes for probing the dynamics of soft surfaces.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2511.03123,
title = {Surface wakes on ultra-soft solids},
author = {Aditi Chakrabarti and Divya Jaganathan and Robert Haussman and L. Mahadevan},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2511.03123},
year = {2025}
}
Comments
Figure 2 replaced with a better quality one