A Study on the Movement Characteristics of Fuel in the Fuel Tank during the Maneuvering Process

Abstract

To investigate the movement characteristics of fuel within an aircraft’s fuel tank during maneuvering, this study employs numerical simulations using the Finite Pointset Method (FPM) with specific boundary conditions and excitation. The simulation results successfully capture the complex phenomena of fuel free surface fluctuations, surging, rolling, and breaking, along with the corresponding changes in the center of gravity induced by fuel movement. Throughout the aircraft’s maneuvering process, the longitudinal center of gravity experiences minimal variations, whereas the aerodynamic center of gravity exhibits significant fluctuations, reaching a range of 0.47 m. The longitudinal center of gravity consistently shifts backward with a displacement of 0.41 m. The maximum height attained by the liquid’s free surface during aircraft maneuvering measures approximately 0.22 m, reaching the upper panel’s height of the wing fuel tank, resulting in a certain level of impact on the upper panel. The maximum impact force generated during the aircraft maneuvering process amounts to 2.3 × 105 pascals, with the point of action located at the junction of the transverse frame and the upper panel. The findings of this work provide support for the safe design of aircraft fuel tank systems.