The Effect of Tank Geometry on Sloshing Forces

The geometry of the impact surface is as effective as the wave shape in the change of sloshing forces. The wave shape depends on the shape of the tank, with the oscillation frequency coinciding with the natural frequencies of the tank under sloshing motion. This study compares the surface deformations and pressures on the lateral walls that occur during oscillation along one axis at the same oscillation frequency between a rectangular tank and a chamfered tank of similar dimensions. The pressure distribution on the surfaces due to sloshing was measured for both tanks over a wide range of oscillation frequencies. Free surface deformations were monitored in the resonant and non-resonant regions, and the impact effects of the waves were compared. While maximum pressures were measured in the resonant regions of both tanks, pressures decreased at other oscillation frequencies. The sloshing of the tanks changed the wave shapes based on the geometry of the chamfered tank and also caused lower measurements at the same pressure measurement points at similar oscillation/natural frequency ratios.