Sloshing response in rectangular water tanks under seismic actions considering resonant effects

• Published in: Physics of fluids (1994) 2024-12, Vol.36 (12)
• Main Authors: Zhang, Cong, Chen, Yadong, Wan, Hongmei, Jin, Xin, Wang, Baoliang, Li, Baoliang, Wang, Yue
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Correlation analysis; Excitation; Hydrodynamic pressure; Numerical models; Resonant frequencies; Seismic response; Seismic waves; Shake table tests; Tables (data); Water tanks; Water waves
• ISSN: 1070-6631; 1089-7666
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0246400

This study explores the sloshing response of rectangular liquid tanks subjected to seismic excitations through a combination of large-scale shaking table tests and OpenFOAM-based numerical simulations, covering both resonant and non-resonant seismic conditions. The effects of seismic directionality on sloshing and the characteristics of sloshing behavior under resonant and non-resonant seismic actions are compared. Key findings include the following: (1) vertical seismic waves have minor impacts on sloshing response, contributing only 5.62% to the maximum sloshing height and 6.11% to the peak hydrodynamic pressure under resonant conditions, with the contributions increasing to 8.19%–9.21% for the maximum sloshing height and 10.22%–15.23% for peak hydrodynamic pressure under non-resonant conditions. (2) Significant sloshing waves can be induced even under low-amplitude resonant excitations. During resonant conditions, the water wave is dominated by low-order odd sloshing modes, whereas high-frequency seismic components and natural sloshing modes predominate under non-resonant conditions. (3) Correlation analysis reveals that when the dominant seismic frequency differs from the tank's natural frequency, the sloshing heights strongly correlate with the seismic waves. However, as the frequencies align, this correlation weakens and nonlinear sloshing behavior intensifies. (4) Westergaard's and Housner's formulas accurately predict the peak hydrodynamic pressure near the tank bottom under non-resonant conditions but significantly underestimate it under resonant conditions. A new formula is proposed for the peak hydrodynamic pressure calculation under resonance and validated through a real case study. The experimental data from the large-scale shaking table tests are expected to help address the deficiencies in the existing database for validating numerical models.