Experimental investigation of leaky lamb modes by an optically induced grating.

By removing the symmetry of a free plate configuration, fluid loading significantly modifies the nature of acoustic waves travelling along a plate, and it even gives existence to new acoustic modes. We present theoretical predictions for the existence, dispersive behavior, and spatial distribution of leaky Lamb waves in a fluid-loaded film. Although Lamb modes are often investigated by studying the radiated fluid waves resulting from their leakage, here their properties are assessed by detecting the wave displacements directly using laser beam deflection.

Nonlinearity of acoustic waves at solid-liquid interfaces.

The small-amplitude and finite-amplitude propagation characteristics of laser line source excited and laser detected Scholte waves are investigated. Acoustic waves with Mach numbers up to 0.054 are observed at the interface between water and glass.