Experimental Assessment of Baffles and Their Effect on the Longitudinal Sloshing Force in a Scaled Elliptical Tank

The dynamic behavior of heavy vehicles moving on roads depends on load magnitude and its distribution, and a special concern may be directed to tankers. Liquid cargo at partial filled levels exhibits sloshing during vehicle longitudinal displacement, generating some forces which might alter vehicle's directional response and traction control. To attenuate the sloshing dynamic effect, transversal plates (baffles) are placed inside the container but increasing the structural container mass, arising vehicle's mass center and decreasing vehicle's useful load capacity. An experimental study on the effects of fill level and number of baffles on the sloshing attenuation is presented. For doing so, an instrumented scaled experimental tank of elliptical transversal section is used with water as liquid cargo, and longitudinal sloshing force is measured. Results show relationship among force produced by the sloshing and number of baffles, fill level and forward tank velocity just before it is stopped.