Experimental And Numerical Study of Liquid Sloshing In a Rectangular Tank With Three Fluids

Abstract

Sloshing experiments are reported with a rectangular tank filled with three fluids of different densities. The tank undergoes harmonic and multichromatic forced motions, in sway then roll. The positions of the interfaces at the tank end are video-tracked and RAOs are extracted through image processing and Fourier/spectral analysis. An analytical model, based on linearized potential flow theory, is described and its predictions are compared with experimental RAOs, with good agreement. Comparisons are also presented with results from a fully nonlinear CFD code with VOF tracking of the interfaces. This investigation is relevant for the design of wash-tanks installed aboard FPSOs.