Dynamic response of structure coupled with liquid sloshing in a laminated composite cylindrical tank with baffle

Baffles are used effectively to reduce the sloshing response of liquid in the liquid storage containers. In this paper, the dynamic interaction that exists between the liquid and elastic tank-baffle system has been considered to evaluate the coupled response of liquid and tank-baffle system using the finite element method. The baffle and tank wall are made up of light weight laminated composite materials. The liquid is assumed to be in compressible and inviscid, and the flow is irrotational. The finite element equations of motion of liquid and structure domains are numerically integrated by Newmark's integration scheme. The interaction effect between the two fields is studied by transferring the structural normal acceleration to the liquid domain and liquid pressure to the structure domain. Effects of different parameters, such as being composite baffles, lamination scheme on the slosh frequencies and coupled vibration frequencies in the liquid filled composite tanks have been studied. The effects of composite baffle parameters, such as being its dimensions and position in the tank wall, on the sloshing response of liquid and structural response of liquid filled composite tank are studied under translational base excitation. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier B.V.