A modal approach to second-order analysis of sloshing using boundary element method

This paper aims at developing a modal approach for the non-linear analysis of sloshing in an arbitrary-shape tank under both horizontal and vertical excitations. For this purpose, the perturbation technique is employed and the potential flow is adopted as the liquid sloshing model. The first- and second-order kinematic and dynamic boundary conditions of the liquid-free surface are used along with a boundary element model which is formulated in terms of the velocity potential of the liquid-free surface. The boundary element model is used to determine the natural mode shapes of sloshing and their corresponding frequencies. Using the modal analysis technique, a non-linear model is presented for the calculation of the first- and second-order potential which can be used to obtain a reduced-order model for the sloshing dynamics. The results of the presented model are verified with the analytical solution for the second-order analysis of sloshing in a rectangular tank and very good results were obtained. Also, the second-order sloshing in some other example tanks with complex bed shapes is studied. The second-order resonance conditions of liquid sloshing in the example tanks are investigated and some conclusions are drawn. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.