Bi-stability in a vertically excited rectangular tank with finite liquid depth

We discuss the bi - stability that is possibly exhibited by a liquid free surface in a parametrically - driven two-dimensional (2D) rectangular tank with finite liquid depth. Following the method of adaptive mode ordering, assuming two dominant modes and retaining polynomial nonlinearities up to third-order, a nonlinear finite-dimensional nonlinear modal system approximation is obtained. A \"continuation method\" of nonlinear dynamics is then used in order to elicit efficiently the instability boundary in parameters\' space and to predict how steady surface elevation changes as the frequency and/ or the amplitude of excitation are varied. Results are compared against those of the linear version of the system (that is a Mathieu-type model) and furthermore, against an intermediate model also derived with formal mode ordering, that is based on a second - order ordinary differential equation having nonlinearities due to products of elevation with elevation velocity or acceleration. The investigation verifies that, in parameters space, there must be a region, inside the quiescent region, where liquid surface instability is exhibited. There, behaviour depends on initial conditions and a wave form would be realised only if the free surface was substantially disturbed initially.