Experimental studies of the impact of fluid sloshing in the tank on the dynamic characteristics of the “wing model – fuel tank” system

Abstract

Flexible response of the airframe structural elements under operational loads are one of the main sources of fatigue damage accumulation. It is known that fuel sloshing in tanks can change the dynamic (frequencies and shapes of natural oscillations) and dissipative properties (oscillation damping decrements) of an elastic system, including partially or completely fuelfilled tanks. It is specified that fuel sloshing in tanks due to the additional oscillation energy dissipation of the elastic system can have a significant impact on both the fatigue and aeroelastic characteristics of aircraft structural elements. Theoretical and experimental studies, applicably to the majority of currently operating transport aircraft, have shown that when modeling dynamic phenomena and solving aeroelasticity problems, fuel can be considered conditionally solidified, which actually does not affect the resultant effect. The advent of modern heavy transport aircraft with a high aspect ratio wing and four engines on pylons under the wing has led to a considerable change in the dynamic picture of the aircraft interaction with the environment. The main feature is that, under this arrangement, the first horizontal bending mode of the wing is embedded in the main flexible modes that determine the dynamic response to external effects. In this case, the model of solidified fuel can have a significant impact on the accuracy of predicting dynamic loads and, as a consequence, on the quantitative characteristics of durability and aeroelasticity. The article presents the results of experimental studies of the impact of fluid sloshing in the tank on the dynamic characteristics (frequencies of natural oscillations and amplitudes of forced oscillations) of the “wing model – fuel tank” system. The design of the experimental installation and the methodology of conducting experiments are described. During the experiment, the tank was partially filled with liquid or full, and horizontal bending modes of the wing model, for which considering liquid sloshing in the tank is the most relevant, were studied. The tank refueling levels are determined at which the maximum effect of the system oscillation damping is achieved due to energy dissipation under liquid sloshing. The effect of various factors (presence of a top cover, internal structural frame, perforation in the structural frame) on the amplitudes and frequencies of forced oscillations is analyzed.