Investigation of design parameters related to sloshing loads using smoothed particle hydrodynamics and rule-based estimations

This paper presents an investigation of sloshing loads acting on liquid cargo tanks based on classification rules and numerical simulations. For the design of liquid cargo tanks, sloshing load is one of the key factors that should be considered. To reduce the sloshing load and motion of the contained liquid, internal structures such as bulkheads and baffles are commonly installed in the tanks. In classification rules, methodologies to estimate the sloshing loads are proposed considering the design parameters related to these internal structure members. In this paper, we carefully investigate the limitation of classification rules through smoothed particle hydrodynamics. Our investigations focus on the impact of the design parameters on sloshing loads, the patterns of the free surface, and the characteristics of velocity distribution in the tank. Through the obtained results, it is identified that the existing classification rules lack consideration for the design parameters that affect the sloshing loads and fluid characteristics in the tank. This result provides a better understanding of the existing classification rules and their limitations. It can contribute to foundational data for the future revision of classification rules.