Earthquake-induced sloshing effects on the hydrodynamic pressure response of rigid cylindrical liquid storage tanks using CFD simulation

Abstract

This study aims at evaluating nonlinear hydrodynamic pressures on the inner wall of rigid cylindrical tanks, resulting from liquid sloshing due to the simultaneous action of two horizontal and one vertical ground motion components. For this purpose, the computational model that can predict realistic dynamic fluid responses is validated through comparison of simulated and experimental results reported in the literature. Using the validated computational fluid dynamics modeling technique, the computational model of a prototype cylindrical steel water tank constructed in California is developed to examine the effect of vertical ground motion component on the hydrodynamic pressure response of the tank. Comparison with and without vertical excitation indicates that the vertical motion significantly increases the hydrodynamic pressure on the inner wall of the tanks. Additionally, the effect of water elevation and tank dimensions (height and diameter) on the hydrodynamic pressure is investigated when the tanks are simultaneously subjected to two horizontal and one vertical ground motion components. As the water level and tank dimensions increase, the peak hydrodynamic pressure increases due to the increase of liquid mass.