PACCAR

Tank Sloshing Simulation

The Structural Analysis group at PACCAR Technical Center has been analyzing fluid filled tanks for many years using concentrated mass located at the tank's CG. This is a gross simplification that leads to inaccurate results, but better methods are not sufficiently developed. This student team worked to develop such a model and predict the structural effects of fluid sloshing around in the tank on mounting brackets, on the tank itself, and even on sensors and pickup tubes inside the tank. The team used a computer simulation to develop a model then used results and predictions from that simulation to build a physical model for validation.