Range Of Excitation Frequencies Research Articles

Analysis and quantitative identification of guided wave propagation mechanism in concrete

Concrete is widely used in bridges, tunnels, nuclear power plants and other buildings, the damage of concrete will bring significant safety hazards for the building, therefore, detecting concrete damage is of great significance. In this paper, the propagation characteristics of guided waves in concrete plates are investigated, and finite element simulation is used to analyze the sensitivity of guided waves to the damage of concrete materials under different excitation frequencies. Simulation experiments on guided wave propagation are performed on concrete materials containing damage in the excitation frequency range from 25 to 100 kHz. The signals received by the sensors are analyzed in the time domain, while the reflected wave signals resulting from the contact of the signals with the damage are analyzed in the frequency domain. The results show that the excitation frequencies of 25 and 60 kHz are more sensitive to damage, and the quantitative identification of damage without reference can be realized by using the peak signals in the frequency domain at different excitation frequencies.

Quantification analysis of mural defects in digital holography with fundamental voice excitation based on local phase field separation

Previous collaborative studies have shown that fringe patterns by optical interference way are used as a direct diagnostic tool for qualitative analysis of defects in Culture Heritage. Nevertheless, the complexity of the fringe patterns prevents the accurate quantification of defects. In this study, a phase separation method based on the weighted least-squares algorithm is proposed to conveniently isolate the local phase distribution from the whole, complex fringe pattern. This method is examined to accurately quantify the deformation and strain distribution of visible and invisible defects. In experimental work, the Non-destructive Acoustic excitation and Digital Holography (NDA-DH) detection is employed for the superficial and subsurface defects in the Ruting murals of the Forbidden City, Beijing. Under the impact of fundamental human voice, the frequency range of the acoustic excitation was considered from 100–800 Hz. All results show that the suggested phase separation method allows direct observation of defects as well as quantified surface deformation providing a precious documentation to the conservators.

Effect of the drag coefficient on the performance of vertical porous baffles in a sloshing tank

Purpose The present work involves analytical and experimental investigation of sloshing in a two-dimensional rectangular tank including the effect of porous baffles to control and/or reduce the wave motion in the sloshing tank. The purpose of this study is to assess the analytical solutions of the drag coefficient effect on porous baffles performance to track free surface motion variation in the sloshing tank by comparison with experimental shake table tests under a range of sway excitation. Design/methodology/approach The linear second-order ordinary differential equations for liquid sloshing in the rectangular tank were solved using Newmark’s beta method and obtained the analytical solutions for liquid sloshing with dual vertical porous baffles of full submergence depths in a sway-oscillated rectangular tank following the methodology similar to Warnitchai and Pinkaew (1998) and Tait (2008). Findings The porous baffles significantly reduce wave elevation in the varying filled levels of the tank compared to the baffle-free tank under the range of excitation frequencies. It is observed that the Reynolds number-dependent drag coefficient for porous baffles in the tank can significantly reduce the sloshing elevations and is found to be effective to achieve higher damping compared to the porosity-dependent drag coefficient for porous baffles in the sloshing tank. The analytical model’s response to free surface elevation variations in the sloshing tank was compared with the experiment’s test results. The analytical results matched with shake table test results with a quantitative difference near the first resonant frequency. Research limitations/implications The scope of the study is limited to porous baffles performance under range sway motion and three different filling levels in the tank. The porous baffle performance includes Reynolds number dependent drag coefficient to explore the damping effect in the sloshing tank. Originality/value The porous baffles with low-level porosities in the sloshing tank have many engineering applications where the first resonant mode of sloshing in the tank is more important. The porous baffle drag coefficient is an important parameter to study the baffle’s damping effect in sloshing tanks. Hence, obtained analytical solution for liquid sloshing in the rectangular tank with Reynolds number as well as porosity-dependent drag coefficient (model 1) and porosity-dependent drag coefficient porous baffles (model 2) performance is discussed. The model’s test results were validated using a series of shake table sloshing experiments for three fill levels in the tank with sway motion at various excitation frequencies covering the first four sloshing resonant modes.

Effect of Hydrogen Enrichment on Transfer Matrices of Fully and Technically Premixed Swirled Flames

Abstract Knowledge of flame responses to acoustic perturbations is of utmost importance to predict thermoacoustic instabilities in gas turbine combustors. However, measuring transfer functions linking acoustic quantities upstream and downstream of flames are very challenging in practical systems and these measurements can significantly deviate from state-of-the-art models. Moreover, there is a lack of studies investigating the effect of hydrogen enrichment on the response of natural gas (NG) flames. In this work, measurements of flame transfer matrices (FTMs) of turbulent H2/NG flames in an atmospheric combustor featuring an axial swirler burner have been performed, allowing us to unravel the transition between FTM in fully premixed (FP) and in technically premixed (TP) conditions. Furthermore, imaging of OH* chemiluminescence and OH-planar laser induced fluorescence are obtained for characterizing the topology of the flame for varying H2 fraction and mixing conditions. Transfer matrices are measured using the multimicrophone method for H2 fractions ranging from 12% to 43% in power. Afterward, the flame transfer functions (FTFs), which linearly relate the coherent fluctuations of the heat release rate to the acoustic velocity oscillations, are obtained from the FTM by using the Rankine–Hugoniot jump conditions across the flame. Using the OH* chemiluminescence intensity as a surrogate for the heat release rate, the FTF based on this optical measurement is also extracted and compared to the one exclusively obtained with the multimicrophone method. As expected, the two different methods are in very good agreement for the FP case and significantly differ for the TP case. Indeed, chemiluminescence fluctuations cannot be directly linked to heat release rate fluctuations when the acoustic forcing induces equivalence ratio fluctuations at the flame, making the optical method unusable for TP configurations. We also show that the two methods agree in the high end of the explored excitation frequency range and we provide an explanation to this intriguing finding. Moreover, we investigate the sensitivity of the FTM measurement to the estimate of the speed of sound in the rig in FP conditions. Finally, the measured FTFs are fitted with FTF models based on multiple distributed time delays. This allows us to explain the frequency dependence and the hydrogen fraction dependence of the gain and the phase in FP and TP conditions.

Mechanical characterization of human skin—A non-invasive digital twin approach using vibration-response integrated with numerical methods

This paper proposes an innovative approach to identify elastic material properties and mass density of soft tissues based on interpreting their mechanical vibration response, externally excited by a mechanical indenter or acoustic waves. A vibration test is performed on soft sheets to measure their response to a continuous range of excitation frequencies. The frequency responses are collected with a pair of high-speed cameras in conjunction with 3-D digital image correlation (DIC). Two cases are considered, including suspended/fully-free rectangular neoprene sheets as artificial tissue cutout samples and continuous layered human skin vibrations. An efficient theoretical model is developed to analytically simulate the free vibrations of the neoprene artificial sheet samples as well as the continuous layered human skins. The high accuracy and validity of the presented analytical simulations are demonstrated through comparison with the DIC measurements and the conducted frequency tests, as well as a number of finite element (FE) modeling. The developed analytical approach is implemented into a numerical algorithm to perform an inverse calculation of the soft sheets' elastic properties using the imported experimental vibration results and the predicted system's mass via the system equivalent reduction/expansion process (SEREP) method. It is shown that the proposed frequency-dependent inverse approach is capable of rapidly predicting the material properties of the tested samples with high accuracy.

Experimental study of sloshing characteristics in a rectangular tank with elastic baffles

A series of laboratory experiments are conducted to investigate liquid sloshing in a rectangular tank with a vertical baffle of varying elasticity under horizontal excitations. Image processing techniques are introduced to track baffle displacement, as well as to identify the free surface and the bubble. Dye visualization is employed to reveal the vortex behavior around the baffle. The air entrainment mechanism, including jet impinging, air cavity formation and deformation, and turbulent mixing, is analyzed. Moreover, the study investigates the effect of baffles with different stiffness on suppressing liquid sloshing across a wide range of excitation frequencies. The results show that the peak frequencies of the maximum free surface elevation-frequency curves correspond to the first natural frequency of fluid, the sub-resonance frequency, and the wet natural frequency of the elastic baffle. It is also found that the elastic baffle can effectively reduce liquid sloshing within a certain frequency range and balance the slamming impact both on the wall and the baffle, providing promising prospects for its practical applications.

3-D Ultrafast Shear Wave Absolute Vibro-Elastography Using a Matrix Array Transducer.

Real-time ultrasound imaging plays an important role in ultrasound-guided interventions. The 3-D imaging provides more spatial information compared to conventional 2-D frames by considering the volumes of data. One of the main bottlenecks of 3-D imaging is the long data acquisition time, which reduces practicality and can introduce artifacts from unwanted patient or sonographer motion. This article introduces the first shear wave absolute vibro-elastography (S-WAVE) method with real-time volumetric acquisition using a matrix array transducer. In S-WAVE, an external vibration source generates mechanical vibrations inside the tissue. The tissue motion is then estimated and used in solving a wave equation inverse problem to provide the tissue elasticity. A matrix array transducer is used with a Verasonics ultrasound machine and a frame rate of 2000 volumes/s to acquire 100 radio frequency (RF) volumes in 0.05 s. Using plane wave (PW) and compounded diverging wave (CDW) imaging methods, we estimate axial, lateral, and elevational displacements over 3-D volumes. The curl of the displacements is used with local frequency estimation to estimate elasticity in the acquired volumes. Ultrafast acquisition extends substantially the possible S-WAVE excitation frequency range, now up to 800 Hz, enabling new tissue modeling and characterization. The method was validated on three homogeneous liver fibrosis phantoms and on four different inclusions within a heterogeneous phantom. The homogeneous phantom results show less than 8% (PW) and 5% (CDW) difference between the manufacturer values and the corresponding estimated values over a frequency range of 80-800 Hz. The estimated elasticity values for the heterogeneous phantom at 400-Hz excitation frequency show the average errors of 9% (PW) and 6% (CDW) compared to the provided average values by magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). Furthermore, both imaging methods were able to detect the inclusions within the elasticity volumes. An ex vivo study on a bovine liver sample shows less than 11% (PW) and 9% (CDW) difference between the estimated elasticity ranges by the proposed method and the elasticity ranges provided by MRE and acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI).

Oblique Vibratory Surface Grinding-Experimental Study.

The article reports the results of experimental study of vibratory surface grinding in the range of low excitation frequencies and variable directions of excited vibrations in the plane of the table, and investigates the effect of these directions on the roughness and waviness of the ground surface. The tests were conducted on a production surface grinder with a vibrating table on which the samples were mounted. The table made it possible to change the direction for the introduction of vibrations to the workpiece (longitudinally, transversely, and obliquely to the longitudinal feed of the table) and the parameters of the introduced vibrations, frequency and amplitude. In the course of the study, selected parameters of surface roughness and waviness of samples ground conventionally and with vibrations introduced on the workpiece were compared. The results show an improvement in the roughness and waviness parameters of the vibration-ground surfaces compared to surfaces ground without vibration (conventionally). The profile of the ground surface was subjected to Fourier analysis and the harmonic components of the surface shape of the ground samples were determined to characterize the effect of the introduced vibrations on the surface roughness. It was determined that the direction of vibration introduction, which is most favorable in terms of the parameters of the geometric structure of the ground surface, is the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal feed of the grinding table. In other directions of vibration introduction, the simultaneous effect of improving both parameters of the geometric structure of the ground surface profile was not obtained.

Primary and subharmonic resonance features of a graphene nanoplatelet strengthened beam in a thermal ambient directly attacking nonlinear integro-partial differential governing equations

The nonlinear aspects of advanced structures may be utilized for design purposes and making use of advantages and avoiding disadvantages of such structures. On the other hand, developing information from secondary resonance examinations of advanced structures is worthwhile for engineering objectives such as mass detection, energy harvesting and damage detection of systems likewise structures. Moreover, a precise solution methodology discards any possibility of qualitative errors and incorrect prejudice. Accordingly, for the first time, the nonlinear primary resonance alongside the subharmonic resonance of an advanced beam structure strengthened by means of graphene nanoplatelets in a thermal ambient is addressed in details employing the direct method of multiple scales. With the aim of defeating to the disadvantageous influences of the discretization procedure on the nonlinear dynamics of the graphene nanoplatelet strengthened beam, the nonlinear integro-partial differential equation of motion in accompanied by the in-homogeneous boundary conditions are attacked directly resorting to the method of multiple scales. It is shown that how an FGX distribution pattern of graphene nanoplatelets for a beam subjected to a subharmonic resonance excitation relative to an FGO distribution pattern effectively extends the range of excitation frequency that leads to a bistable solution. This deduction is very proficient for harvesting energy scopes. A similar finding is observed for a CC beam with respect to a CS beam. It is seen that when an FGX beam is exposed to a subharmonic resonance in a wider range of force amplitude experiences a non-trivial equilibrium state relative to an FGO beam. However, the strengthening of the beam with graphene nanoplatelets decreases the lower bound of the excitation frequency required for the activation of subharmonic resonance more significant for an FGX distribution pattern. Moreover, the primary resonance frequency response shows different trend prior to and after the situation of the external force frequency to the first natural frequency ratio equal to one for an FGX and an FGO graphene nanoplatelet strengthened beams. The presented results open a new view of the future of engineering designs for various engineering scopes such as energy harvesting, mass detection and damage detection purposes employing advanced structures.

Experimental demonstration of the strong impact of plasma excitation frequency range on electronic properties of silicon nitride/GaAs interfaces

Passivation/encapsulation of III–V electronic and photonic circuits and devices is often performed using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposited SixNy with a standard high frequency excitation of 13.56 MHz. The hypothesis of a possible higher passivation process efficiency for low frequency SixNy deposition on GaAs has been suggested by comparison with published work on high frequency. In this work, we report a direct experimental demonstration of the effect of the RF plasma source frequency on electronic properties of GaAs/SixNy interfaces during a passivation process. GaAs substrates from the same wafer are processed in the same reactor using the same plasma conditions except for the plasma excitation frequency and MIS structures are fabricated to probe interface electronic properties. Comparing interfaces obtained with a plasma source frequency below or over the ion transit frequency (∼ 2 MHz) shows drastic difference in electrical behavior. While Fermi level is pinned when a high frequency plasma (13.56 MHz) is used, a good modulation of surface potential is observed with a low frequency plasma (380 kHz), indicating an interface states density lower by orders of magnitude. X-ray photoelectron spectra analysis is performed in order to investigate GaAs/SixNy interface formation in relation with plasma excitation frequency. We show that a short exposure to the low frequency plasma results in the almost complete removal of native oxides species. To the contrary, a significant amount of oxides remains on structures treated by the high frequency technique. The low frequency plasma technique could be a better alternative to the standard high frequency, as it is less reliant on wet chemical treatments like ammonium sulfide passivation and could allow for processing at lower temperatures.

Nonlinear waves in a rivulet falling down a vertical plate

Nonlinear waves in a rectilinear rivulet flowing down a vertical plate are studied based on the developed theoretical model. The model equations are derived by the weighted residual method through projecting the Navier–Stokes equations onto the constructed system of basic orthogonal polynomials. Stability of the rivulet flow is analyzed and dispersion dependences for linear waves are obtained. Nonlinear wave regimes of a rivulet flow are numerically studied within the framework of two different problems, namely, the problem of stationary traveling waves with a given wavelength and the problem of spatial development of forced waves with a given frequency. Characteristics of nonlinear quasi-two-dimensional stationary traveling waves are obtained, and spatial development of forced waves is studied. Waves of various families are identified. It is shown that in a certain narrow range of excitation frequency, there are no stationary traveling waves, but a pulsating regime of flow occurs.

A Two-Degree-of-Freedom Vibro-impact Triboelectric Energy Harvester for larger bandwidth

The efficiency of the energy harvesters can be improved by increasing the harvester bandwidth. Toward this, we presented a Two-Degree of Freedom (2-DOF) Vibro-impact Triboelectric Energy Harvester by combining multi-modality and piecewise linearity of two close resonant frequencies. The harvester structure consists of a primary cantilever beam attached to a secondary cantilever beam through a tip mass. The secondary beam is attached in the opposite direction to the primary beam. The secondary beam’s bottom surface acts as a triboelectric generator’s upper electrode. A lower electrode with bonded Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) insulator is attached at some gap separation distance underneath the upper electrode to create an impact structure. When the system vibrates, an impact between the triboelectric layers generates an alternating electrical signal. A 2-DOF system with lumped parameter theoretical model was developed to extract the governing equations. In addition, the experimental results were extracted to validate the theoretical model. Afterward, parametric analysis based on the variation of gaps, resistance, and surface charge density was theoretically investigated. Finally, the proposed harvester demonstrated an increase in the maximum output voltage by more than 300%, and a 250% increase in the bandwidth, by changing the excitation level from 0.1 g to 0.7 g. The result of this study can pave the way for an efficient energy harvester that can scavenge ambient vibrations over a wide range of excitation frequencies.

On the interaction of a wind turbine wake with a conventionally neutral atmospheric boundary layer

In this work, we investigate the dynamics of wind turbine tip-vortex breakdown in a conventionally neutral atmospheric boundary layer (ABL). To this end, high-resolution data are collected from large-eddy simulations of a wind turbine operating within a neutral ABL and studied by means of proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) and Fourier analysis. The high resolution of the generated data in both space and time allows us to gain insight into the tip-vortex breakdown mechanisms by (i) capturing the energy modes of the coherent structures, (ii) studying their contribution to the tip-vortex breakdown through their power spectra functions and mean kinetic energy (MKE) flux, and (iii) analysing the growth rate of each contributing perturbation frequency along tip vortices. Our analysis shows that under a fully turbulent scenario, the growth rate of perturbations along the tip vortices is largest for low wave numbers, i.e. long-wave perturbations. Additionally, the MKE flux reaches its highest value at two diameters downstream of the rotor plane, a behaviour that can be attributed to the coexistence of multiple interacting POD modes, with the streamwise vortex roller mode being the primary contributor to the total MKE flux budget, contributing approximately 24%. Finally, comparisons with a laminar, uniform flow scenario subject to a single-frequency perturbation highlight the differences between the two ambient flow conditions. In the non-turbulent, uniform flow scenario, the growth rate attains its maximum value at a wave number corresponding to the out-of-phase mutual-inductance mechanism, whereas the MKE flux exhibits local minima and maxima along the wake and at different downstream locations depending on the perturbation frequency. Our analyses suggest that the breakdown of the wind turbine tip vortices under a fully turbulent neutral ABL inflow is due to complex interactions across a range of excitation frequencies, in which the mutual-inductance instability may not be the dominant one.

Broadband omnidirectional piezoelectric–electromagnetic hybrid energy harvester for self-charged environmental and biometric sensing from human motion

Vibration induced by human motions features a wide frequency spectrum and spatiotemporal-variable directions. Yet, it is challenging to concurrently expand frequency bandwidth and achieve multidirectional capability for effectively human-induced biomechanical energy harvesting and biometrics sensing. In this paper, we report a piezoelectric–electromagnetic hybrid energy harvester with coupled vibrational stabilization and induced frequency-up rotational mechanisms for omnidirectional and broadband vibration energy harvesting. Experimental studies demonstrate the proposed hybrid energy harvester operates effectively over a wide excitation frequency range from 6.0 to 16.0 Hz with omnidirectional responses. The piezoelectric conversion unit can provide a maximum output power of 0.9 mW and the electromagnetic conversion unit’s maximum output power is 22.7 mW. The hybrid energy harvester satisfies the power requirements of different types of portable electronics and realizes various self-charged sensing electronics that are stimulated by human movement. Various types of human motion signals are detected by piezoelectric and electromagnetic units via machine learning techniques to realize self-powered motion monitoring. Compared with a single type of signal, the identification accuracy of the hybrid device is improved from 85.6% to 100%. The proposed energy harvester for self-powered sensing paves the way to green intelligent life such as health management, environmental monitoring and human-machine interaction.

A Hybrid Damper with Tunable Particle Impact Damping and Coulomb Friction

A particle impact damper (PID) dissipates the vibration energy of a structure through impacts within the damper. The PID is not commonly used in practice mainly because of its low damping-to-mass ratio and the difficulty in achieving its optimal design due to its nonlinear characteristics. In contrast, a Coulomb friction damper (FD) can offer a higher damping force-to-mass ratio than other dampers, but it is also difficult to be controlled precisely due to its nonlinear characteristics and excessive frequency sensitivity regarding the resonant frequency. This paper examines a hybrid damper by combining a particle impact damper and a Coulomb friction damper (PID + FD) theoretically and experimentally. A theoretical model of the proposed damper is developed and tested numerically on a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) structure. The predicted results are validated by experimental tests on a prototype of the proposed damper. The damping force provided by the FD in the prototype can be varied by adjusting the normal force applied through a compression spring, while the vibration energy dissipation by the PID can be varied by changing the cavity size of the PID. A parametric analysis of the proposed hybrid damper has been performed. The proposed hybrid damper can reduce the maximum vibration amplitude of the SDOF primary structure by 66% and 43% compared with using the FD and PID only. The proposed damper is found to be effective over a wide range of excitation frequencies. Furthermore, the proposed hybrid damper achieves a similar vibration suppression performance to the traditional tuned mass damper (TMD) of a similar mass ratio. The proposed damper does not require an optimally tuned natural frequency and damping, unlike the TMD, and therefore it does not have the detuning problem associated with the TMD. In addition, the performance of the proposed damper is tested and compared with the TMD for random earthquake excitation data. Consequently, the proposed hybrid damper may be a simpler and better alternative to the TMD in passive vibration control applications.

Magnetic Bistability for a Wider Bandwidth in Vibro-Impact Triboelectric Energy Harvesters.

Mechanical energy from vibrations is widespread in the ambient environment. It may be harvested efficiently using triboelectric generators. Nevertheless, a harvester's effectiveness is restricted because of the limited bandwidth. To this end, this paper presents a comprehensive theoretical and experimental investigation of a variable frequency energy harvester, which integrates a vibro-impact triboelectric-based harvester and magnetic nonlinearity to increase the operation bandwidth and improve the efficiency of conventional triboelectric harvesters. A cantilever beam with a tip magnet was aligned with another fixed magnet at the same polarity to induce a nonlinear magnetic repulsive force. A triboelectric harvester was integrated into the system by utilizing the lower surface of the tip magnet to serve as the top electrode of the harvester, while the bottom electrode with an attached polydimethylsiloxane insulator was placed underneath. Numerical simulations were performed to examine the impact of the potential wells formed by the magnets. The structure's static and dynamic behaviors at varying excitation levels, separation distance, and surface charge density are all discussed. In order to develop a variable frequency system with a wide bandwidth, the system's natural frequency varies by changing the distance between the two magnets to reduce or magnify the magnetic force to achieve monostable or bistable oscillations. When the system is excited by vibrations, the beams vibrate, which causes an impact between the triboelectric layers. An alternating electrical signal is generated from a periodic contact-separation motion between the harvester's electrodes. Our theoretical findings were experimentally validated. The findings of this study have the potential to pave the way for the development of an effective energy harvester that is capable of scavenging energy from ambient vibrations across a broad range of excitation frequencies. The frequency bandwidth was found to increase by 120% at threshold distance compared to the conventional energy harvester. Nonlinear impact-driven triboelectric energy harvesters can effectively broaden the operational frequency bandwidth and enhance the harvested energy.

Vortex zone dynamics in premixed flame under complex gravity and acoustic impact

An inverted conical, plane-symmetrical premixed methane–air flame stabilized by a bluff body under acoustic excitation and various gravity conditions was experimentally investigated. Recirculation zone characteristics were found by means of the phase-resolved particle image velocimetry method. An increase in the size of the longitudinal vortex zone was shown with an increase in both fuel concentration and flow velocity under normal and reverse gravity. The longitudinal size of the vortex zone is independent of frequency, regardless of the direction of gravity at low flow velocity (≤5 m/s) in a stoichiometric flame under the considered excitation frequency range (40–420 Hz). With a flow velocity increase, the size of the vortex zone becomes sensitive to the excitation frequency. An increase in the excitation frequency results in a length decrease in the vortex zone. In rich flames, an inverse relation of the longitudinal vortex zone size to the excitation frequency is observed at lower velocities (5 m/s) for normal gravity conditions. Whereas, under conditions of inverted gravity, the fuel air ratio increase does not lead to such a relation; the vortex zone has a constant length under various excitation frequencies. An external acoustic excitation causes a periodic change in the vortex zone longitudinal size, and for a stoichiometric mixture, the amplitude does not depend on the disturbance frequency. For a rich mixture, a frequency increase results in an amplitude decrease. For selected frequencies and flow velocities, desynchronization of the vortex zone oscillations with external disturbances is observed.

Experimental study on the sloshing of a three-layer liquid system with a free surface

Laboratory experiments have been conducted on the sloshing of three immiscible liquids in a rectangular tank subjected to harmonic horizontal excitation. The three working liquids are water, machine oil and ethanol, respectively. Their depths to tank length are all equal to 0.2. Dozens of experimental cases including a wide range of excitation amplitudes (0.04–8.0 cm) and frequencies (0.111–2.614 Hz) are considered. The experiments produce some results that are unique to the three-layer liquid sloshing. When the excitation frequency is equal to the first mode natural frequency of the bottom interface as well as very close to the third mode natural frequency of the middle interface, the typical resonance phenomenon can be observed both at the middle and the bottom interfaces. Meanwhile, the amplitudes of the free surface displacement are negligibly small compared to the middle and the bottom interfaces. With the increase of the excitation amplitude, the wave pattern on the bottom interface changes from 2D standing wave to 3D gravity-capillary wave. In addition, detailed comparisons between higher resonant modes of the free surface, the middle and the bottom interfaces are carried out. When the excitation frequency is equal to the fifth mode natural frequency of the bottom interface, the typical secondary resonance occurs at the free surface and subsequently influences the other two interfaces. In brief, the present study reveals that in the case of three-layer liquid sloshing, the relevant physics can be much more complicated compared to sloshing of single-layer or two-layer liquid.

Comparative assessment of liquid sloshing in dry and wet storage tank of floating offshore platform

In order to explore the characteristics of the single-layer liquid sloshing in offshore dry oil storage tank and the two-layer liquid sloshing in offshore wet oil storage tank, two series of experiments were carried out: one was free surface sloshing in a closed rectangular tank partially filled with colored water, and the other was interfacial sloshing in the identical tank but completely filled with white oil and colored water. The tank was mounted on a shake table and was subjected to harmonic horizontal excitation with different excitation amplitudes and a wide range of excitation frequencies, including the first seven natural modes of single-layer or two-layer liquid system. The present study find that the frequency responses of interfacial sloshing wave are analogous to those of the free surface sloshing wave, but smaller in amplitudes. The experiments also produce results that are unique to the two-layer liquid sloshing. For example, when the external excitation frequency is equal to or close to the odd mode natural frequency of two-layer liquid system, a complicated three-dimensional (3D) gravity-capillary wave might be generated at the oil-water interface. Finally, the comparisons of free surface and interfacial sloshing in the viscous damping ratio, higher sloshing modes, impact pressure amplitude and mass center displacement were conducted, which revealed the superiority of wet storage technology in structural safety and dynamic stability.

Insights from sloshing experiments in a rectangular hydrophobic tank

The wave impingement on the side walls due to the oscillation of a rectangular tank under harmonic sway motion is analysed experimentally with hydrophobic coated and uncoated tank surfaces. Impact pressures and free surface deformations are compared in three water filling levels over an excitation frequency range encompassing the first natural frequency. The reduced hydrodynamic loads acting on the tank walls are observed under hydrophobic effects and discussed in detail. Experimental observations clearly indicate that there is a strong effect of the solid surface properties on the free surface elevation, wave generation and pressure distribution. In particular, major changes have been traced around the resonance frequency due to more dominant tangential flow and altered wave form, which results in lower peak pressure values with increased water movement within the tank under the hydrophobic effects.