The Problem of the Shape of a Vertical Liquid Bridge between Convex Surfaces Taking the Gravity Force into Account

The solution to the problem of the shape of the lateral surface of a vertical 3D catenoidal liquid bridge of small volume between two arbitrary convex solid surfaces in the axisymmetric case taking into account the gravity force is presented. A variational formulation of the initial problem is given. The solution is found by the iteration method under the assumption of a small Bond number. An algorithm of the iterative process is proposed. We have detected domains of variation of parameters in which the uniqueness of the solution is not observed. It is found that the maximal number of different lateral surface profiles of the liquid bridge, which correspond to a single chosen set of parameters, is four. By way of example, the problem of the liquid bridge shape between two spheres is solved.