Experimental and Numerical Investigation Into the Effects of Fluid-Structure Interaction on the Sloshing Impact Loads in Membrane LNG Carrier

The hydro-elasticity effect of sloshing loads in LNG cargo tank has been studied through experiments and numerical simulations regarding the fluid-structure interaction between sloshing impact pressures and tank structures. Sloshing model tests with 1/50 scale membrane type tanks were carried out for 1-D regular harmonic motion to investigate variations of impact pressures due to elasticity differences of the tank structure. Numerical simulations were performed and validated for the same case. Additionally, wall impinging jet flow was simulated by numerical simulation to verify the relation between elasticity of structure and impact pressure. It was commonly observed that the elasticity of the tank structure had significant influence on the height and shape of the impact pressure peak. Numerical study showed that the ratio between the structural natural period and the duration of the impact pressure is important for the influence of impact pressure on the tank structure.