Effects of seismic characteristics and baffle damping on liquid sloshing

The present work concentrates on liquid sloshing in tanks under real seismic excitations with various frequency contents [the ratio of peak ground acceleration (PGA) to peak ground velocity (PGV)] by a finite-difference turbulent model. The turbulence is modeled by the large eddy simulation, and the fluid–structure interaction is resolved by the Virtual Boundary Force method. Thirteen seismic records, covering the low, intermediate and high frequency contents, are adopted to excite nonlinear sloshing waves. Both sloshing wave and hydrodynamic pressure are recorded, and their correlations with the filling level, PGA, PGV and frequency content have been identified. The findings suggest that (1) the sloshing responses are in general positively correlated with the filling level; (2) the sloshing height strongly relates to PGV and frequency content, and the seismic excitation of low frequency and meantime with a larger PGV can trigger more violent sloshing waves than others; and (3) the dynamic pressure along the tank sidewall decreases from the bottom up, which is dominated by PGA at the lower part but the stronger correlation is established with PGV and frequency content at the upper part. Finally, to damp severe sloshing waves, the horizontal, vertical and coupled horizontal and vertical baffles are introduced, and their inhibiting effects are discussed. The present work may guide the design of partially filled storage tanks under seismic excitations.