Search Results

The sloshing behavior of a liquid cargo is an issue that needs to be taken into account when evaluating the dynamic performance of tankers. In general, hazardous liquid materials require a free volume into the tank to absorb thermal expansion changes; therefore, tank has to be filled partially. Under that condition, sloshing is produced at the liquid surface which interacts with container walls generating forces that affect the vehicle’s behavior. In this work, results obtained from experimental tests carried out in a scaled elliptical-transversal-section tank for different filling levels, baffles’ geometries, and baffles’ arrays are presented. Tank is instrumented so that longitudinal forces due to sloshing can be measured when tank is suddenly stopped. The analysis of the results allows identifying the best baffle configuration to be applied in order to attenuate the longitudinal sloshing generated when the vehicle is moving on highways.

The dynamic behavior of heavy vehicles moving on roads depends on load magnitude and its distribution, and a special concern may be directed to tankers. Liquid cargo at partial filled levels exhibits sloshing during vehicle longitudinal displacement, generating some forces which might alter vehicle's directional response and traction control. To attenuate the sloshing dynamic effect, transversal plates (baffles) are placed inside the container but increasing the structural container mass, arising vehicle's mass center and decreasing vehicle's useful load capacity. An experimental study on the effects of fill level and number of baffles on the sloshing attenuation is presented. For doing so, an instrumented scaled experimental tank of elliptical transversal section is used with water as liquid cargo, and longitudinal sloshing force is measured.