Sloshing Analysis of Flowing Liquid in 3D Tank Using Boundary Elements Method

Abstract

A numerical model based on the boundary element method is proposed for the sloshing of a flowing liquid in a three-dimensional tank. Assuming a mean flow in the tank in addition to a perturbation flow, the nonlinear boundary conditions of the liquid free-surface are linearized. Using the boundary element method along with the modal analysis technique a reduced order model is obtained which is used to calculate the fundamental sloshing frequencies and modes in the tank with an inlet and outlet. The obtained results for a test case are compared with the literature data to validate the proposed model. The results are in a very good agreement with analytical results and show an acceptable comparison with experimental data. Then a rectangular tank is provided for further studies and the effects of flow inlet position and velocity on the sloshing frequencies and modes are investigated.