Title: Transient fluid slosh and its effect on the rollover-threshold analysis of partially filled conical and circular tank trucks

Authors: G. Yan, K. Siddiqui, S. Rakheja, K. Modaressi

Addresses: Concave Research Centre, Concordia University, 1455 de Maiosnneuve West, Montreal, H3G 1M8 QC, Canada. ' Concave Research Centre, Concordia University, 1455 de Maiosnneuve West, Montreal, H3G 1M8 QC, Canada. ' Concave Research Centre, Concordia University, 1455 de Maiosnneuve West, Montreal, H3G 1M8 QC, Canada. ' Concave Research Centre, Concordia University, 1455 de Maiosnneuve West, Montreal, H3G 1M8 QC, Canada

Abstract: The transient forces and roll moment caused by fluid slosh within partly filled circular and conical cross-section tanks, subject to a time-varying lateral acceleration field, are evaluated numerically and compared with those estimated from a quasi-static formulation. The variations in the centre of mass coordinates, vertical and lateral forces and roll moment are applied to the roll-moment model of a 6-axle tractor-semi-trailer articulated tank vehicle for analysis of the steady-turning rollover threshold. The results show that the magnitudes of transient lateral force and roll moment approach significantly higher values, than those estimated from the quasi-static formulations. The mean values of the force and moment, however, are similar to those predicted from the quasi-static solution. The steady-turning rollover-threshold accelerations of the vehicle combination with partly filled tanks are thus considerably lower when transient slosh forces and moment are considered in the moment equilibrium, specifically for the intermediate fill volumes. The results further show that the static roll stability limits of the combination with a conical cross-section tank are considerably higher than that with a circular cross-section tank.

Keywords: dynamic fluid slosh; transient lateral load shift; transient forces; roll moment models; conical tank trucks; circular tank trucks; steady-turning rollover threshold; volume of fluid method; heavy vehicles; road tankers; liquid cargo; vehicle safety; simulation; tractor-semi-trailer vehicles.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHVS.2005.008303

International Journal of Heavy Vehicle Systems, 2005 Vol.12 No.4, pp.323 - 343

Published online: 30 Nov 2005 *

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