An oil sloshing study: adaptive fixed-mesh ALE analysis and comparison with experiments

• Published in: Computational mechanics Vol. 63; no. 5; pp. 985 - 998
• Main Authors: Castillo, Ernesto, Cruchaga, Marcela A., Baiges, Joan, Flores, José
• Format: Journal Article Publication
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.05.2019; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Analysis; Anàlisi numèrica; Beer; Classical and Continuum Physics; Computational Science and Engineering; Computer simulation; Elements finits, Mètode dels; Engineering; Experiments; Finite element method; Free surfaces; Image processing equipment; Matemàtiques i estadística; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Multiscale analysis; Mètodes en elements finits; Numerical analysis; Original Paper; Sensors; Sloshing Experimental validation Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) Stabilized finite element methods Adaptive mesh; Theoretical and Applied Mechanics; Ultrasonic testing; Vegetable oils; Àrees temàtiques de la UPC; Adaptive mesh; Experimental validation; Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE); Sloshing; Stabilized finite element methods
• ISSN: 0178-7675; 1432-0924
• DOI: 10.1007/s00466-018-1633-2

We report in this work a numerical analysis of the sloshing of a squared tank partially filled with a domestic vegetable oil. The tank is subject to controlled motions with a shake table. The free-surface evolution is captured using ultrasonic sensors and an image capturing method. Only confirmed data within the error range is reported. Filling depth, imposed amplitude and frequency effects on the sloshing wave pattern are specifically evaluated. The experiments also reveal the nonlinear wave behavior. The numerical model is based on a stabilized finite element method of the variational multi-scale type. The free-surface is captured using a level set technique developed to be used with adaptive meshes in Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian framework. The numerical results are compared with the experiments for different sloshing conditions near the first sloshing mode. The simulations satisfactorily match the experiments, providing a reliable tool for the analysis of this kind of problems.