3D Numerical Simulation of Impact Load due to Liquid Cargo Sloshing

In this paper, a three-dimensional (3D) numerical simulation based on the Marker-and-cell (MAC) method is used for the study of sloshing phenomena in marine vehicles. In order to develop a practical method to predict impact load on tank ceiling, emphasis is given to the numerical treatment of the impact boundary condition on tank ceiling. At first, two-dimensional (2D) numerical simulations are conducted, and the results are compared with the corresponding experimental ones to investigate the parameters which affect the impact load simulation. The same parameters are used in the next step in 3D simulations. The influences of submerged internal structures are also analysed. The results of 3D impact load simulations and experimental data are found to be in good agreement. The comparison of the response amplitude operators of the dynamic pressure by the present numerical simulation, linear theory and the model experiment shows non-linear effect and emphasises the importance of 3D simulation for the analysis of sloshing.