Numerical Simulation and Experimental Validation of Free Surface Sloshing in a Rectangular Tank

Abstract

Free surface sloshing of liquid in a rectangular tank induced by lateral excitation has been studied numericallyand experimentally in this paper.
The numerical simulation is carried out based on the volume of fluid (VOF) method that provides free surface extraction in such problem.
A tank with transparent walls is used to free surface tracking in experimental study while the movement amplitude and frequency of periodic motion is controlled by a reciprocating designed mechanical system. This mechanical device provides a pure lateral periodic motion for liquid tank exciting. Free surface of sloshing liquid in rectangular tankobtained by image processing. Also a test with a vertical plate in the middle of the tank is carried out to study of the solid baffle effects on sloshing mode shapes and especially on maximum and minimum ofliquidfree surface displacement.
Comparison of numerical results and similar experimental tests shows good agreement for low amplitude and low frequency of tank excitations in maximum and minimumof free surface displacement. The average of relative errors estimated less than 10% while they increase by increasing amplitude and frequency excitations due to nonlinear behavior of liquid free surface.

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References

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Journal of Solid and Fluid Mechanics
Volume 1, Issue 1 - Serial Number 1
September and October 2011
Pages 89-95

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