Effect of the vertical baffle height on the liquid sloshing in a three-dimensional rectangular tank

Abstract

This study aims at investigating the effect of the vertical baffle height on the liquid sloshing in a laterally moving three-dimensional (3D) rectangular tank. To simulate 3D incompressible viscous two-phase flow in a tank partially filled with liquid, the volume of fluid (VOF) method based on the finite volume method has been utilized. The ratio of baffle height (hB) to initial liquid height (h) has been changed in the range 0≤hB/h≤1.2. The critical baffle height is hB/h=0.3 beyond which liquid does not reach the roof of the tank at any instant and consequently does not lead to roof impact. When hB/h>1, the liquid no longer goes over the baffle and the liquid sloshing is restricted to within half of the tank and an almost linear behavior of the free surface is observed in each section. The vortex generated by the flow separation from the baffle tip becomes weaker and smaller with increasing baffle height, leading to a diminished damping effect of the tip vortex on the liquid sloshing. The time variation of pressure, the mean maximum pressure and the free surface elevation in relation to the baffle height have been highlighted.