Numerical Prediction of Sloshing Loads in Ship Tanks

The present work is about the estimation of sloshing loads in partially filled tanks of a ship for design purpose. Two oil tankers of different dimensions were taken for this study. Ship motions for several wave-heading angles were computed using potential flow solver. Relevant period for sloshing was determined based on the seakeeping analysis. Critical fill levels of the tanks (with respect to sloshing) were identified from all possible set of motions. The numerical simulation of tank fluid motions for critical fill level was performed, using general fluid flow solver, ANSYS CFX. Prior to applying the method to ship tanks a validation study was carried out. The method was validated against the experimental results obtained by Hinatsu et al. (2001). Pressures at various locations of the tank were computed and were compared with the Common Structural Rules for Oil Tankers (CSR). Pressure time history obtained from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations was applied on the tank bulkhead to get the structural response, using ANSYS Mechanical.