Study on the Predictive Evaluation Method of Nonlinear Sloshing Wave Height of Cylindrical Tanks: Part 1 — Shaking Table Test Results and Verification Results of Analytical Method for Nonlinear Sloshing

Abstract

When cylindrical tanks installed on the ground, such as oil tanks and liquid storage tanks, receive strong seismic waves, including the long-period component, motion of the free liquid surface inside the tank called sloshing may occur. If high-amplitude sloshing occurs and the waves collide with the tank roof, it may lead to accidents such as damage to the tank roof or outflow of internal liquid. Therefore, it is important to predict the wave height of sloshing generated by an earthquake input. Sloshing is vibration of the free liquid surface, and when the sloshing wave height is small, it can be approximated with a linear vibration model. In that case, the velocity-response-spectrum method using velocity potential can estimate the sloshing wave height under an earthquake input. However, when the sloshing wave height increases and the sloshing becomes nonlinear, it is necessary to evaluate the wave height using other methods such as numerical analysis. Taking into consideration that design earthquake levels tend to increase and the use of seismic isolation mechanisms has continued to spread in recent years, the amplitude of the long-period components of an earthquake input which act on cylindrical tanks may also increase. Therefore, although the evaluation of nonlinear sloshing wave height is important, there are few examples which quantitatively evaluate the wave height of nonlinear sloshing. The purpose of this study is to construct a simple evaluation technique of a nonlinear sloshing wave height of cylindrical tanks. In this study, the shaking table test using the small cylindrical tank for studying the behavior of nonlinear sloshing was carried out. Furthermore, verification of the flow-analysis technique described by previous report (PVP2017-65313) was carried out by comparing with test results. As a result, the data for constructing an evaluation technique has been acquired. Moreover, the validity of the flow-analysis technique was has been verified.