Investigation on sloshing response of water rectangular tanks under horizontal and vertical near fault seismic excitations

Abstract

In this study, sloshing response of liquid is investigated in partially filled rectangular tanks subjected to earthquake ground motions. To verify the numerical modeling, shaking-table tests were carried out in sub-scale tanks for different excitation amplitudes, frequencies and fill water levels. Using the calibrated models, nonlinear numerical simulations were performed for practical tanks under different horizontal and vertical near fault excitations. The results express that the liquid pressure induced on tank under vertical seismic loading can be increased especially in near-field earthquakes, however, its effect on sloshing wave height is negligible. Also the results for different tanks under both horizontal and vertical earthquakes show that free surface vertical displacement depends on the spectral response acceleration at the first fundamental period of sloshing behavior. Moreover, the induced pressure is strongly influenced by the earthquake peak ground acceleration and also by the spectrum response acceleration at the first sloshing mode.