Numerical study on liquid sloshing in baffled tank by nonlinear finite element method Original Research Article

This paper introduces a velocity–potential-based nonlinear finite element method for the accurate simulation of the large amplitude liquid sloshing in two-dimensional baffled tank subject to horizontal forced excitation. As well, the effects of baffle on the nonlinear liquid sloshing are parametrically examined. The free surface configuration is tracked by a direct time differentiation of the convective term in the kinematic boundary condition with the help of the four-step predictor–corrector methods. The flow velocity is interpolated from the velocity potential by a second-order least square method. And, the finite element mesh is adapted in a semi-Lagrangian approach combined with the free-surface height correction, in order to keep the mesh regularity and the total liquid volume unchanged. By comparing with the available reference solutions, we verify the numerical accuracy and stability of the nonlinear finite element method proposed. Through the numerical experiments performed by varying the installation height and the opening width of baffles, the hydrodynamic characteristics of the large-amplitude liquid sloshing are parametrically investigated.