Full-Scale Sloshing Impact Tests-Part I

This paper describes the first full-scale tests on a real membrane containment system subjected to the action of breaking waves representative of sloshing impacts in LNG tanks. The waves were generated in a water flume using a wave focusing method. The tests were carried out within the Sloshel project, which is described in several accompanying papers. This paper focuses on describing the test method, the experimental setup and the post processing of the data collected in 110 tests; it explains flow the project goals were translated into the design of the test setup and the instrumentation. Then it describes an extensive qualification of the data acquisition system and sensors. Emphasis is on the sensors developed within the project, such as pressure gauges and a novel optical sensor capturing the last stage of the sloshing impact. The test programme and some preliminary results are summarised. Conclusions are given regarding system performance, data quality and the use of data for achieving the project goals.