An Experimental and Multiphysics Based Numerical Study to Predict Automotive Fuel Tank Sloshing Noise

Abstract

With significant decrease in the background noise in present day automobiles, liquid slosh noise from an automotive fuel tank is considered as a major irritant during acceleration and deceleration. All major international OEMs and their suppliers try to reduce sloshing noise by various design modifications in the fuel tank. However, most major activities reported in open literature are primarily based on performing various CAE and experimental studies in isolation. However, noise generation and its propagation is a multiphysics phenomenon, where fluid mechanics due to liquid sloshing affects structural behaviour of the fuel tank and its mountings which in turn affects noise generation and propagation. In the present study a multiphysics approach to noise generation has been used to predict liquid sloshing noise from a rectangular tank. Computational Fluid dynamics (CFD), Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Boundary Element Method (BEM) simulation studies have been performed in a semi-coupled manner to predict noise. VOF based multiphase model along with k-ε turbulence model was used to perform the CFD studies. Sloshing Noise generated due to fluid interaction with structural walls is simulated using Vibro-acoustic model. An integrated model is developed to predict dynamic forces and vibration displacement on tank walls due to dynamic pressure loading on tank walls. Noise radiated from tank walls is modelled by Harmonic Boundary Element Method. Experimental and numerical studies have been performed to understand the mechanics of sloshing noise generation. Images from high speed video camera and noise measurement data have been used to compare with numerical models.

A Numerical Investigation of Sloshing in a 3D Prismatic Tank with Various Baffle Types, Filling Rates, Input Amplitudes and Liquid Materials

“…The volume of fluid method is an efficient multi-phase method used to simulate the flow of immiscible liquids [20]. This method examines the free surface movement during the liquid sloshing in the tank [4,40]. This method defines a function such as F to define the free surface position and capture the liquid volumes, and defines the volume fraction of a cell filled with liquid and defined by the ratio F = V liquid /V total volume .…”

An Aerodynamic Assessment of Vehicle-Side Wall Interaction using Numerical Simulations

“…18.1). For realistic car models, several previous evaluations have shown that the two-equation k-ε turbulence closures have been successful in reasonably describing the aerodynamics properties on commercial vehicles [16][17][18][19] and more serve as a popular choice for Industrial flows [24,25]. Therefore, in this study, the two-equation turbulence models, namely the Standard k-ε and Realizable k-ε were considered and in addition, the one equation Spalart-Allmaras model was considered in further assessing the appropriateness of the predictions from the two-equation turbulence closures.…”

Observing Liquid Sloshing Based on a Multi-Degree-of-Freedom Pendulum Model and Free Surface Fluctuation Sensor

“…Ganuga et al [28] established a three-dimensional, fully coupled FSI model, which revealed that the behavior of internal structures in a sloshing tank is subjected to resonance, highlighting the role of flexible baffles. Jadon et al [29] used an integrated experimental and multi-physics numerical approach to predict automotive fuel tank sloshing noise by simulating the fluid sloshing, dynamic forces, vibration displacement, and noise radiation. Zheng et al [30] proposed the ISPH method to accurately simulate violent sloshing with complex baffles, providing insights into effective engineering solutions for dampening sloshing and reducing impact pressures.…”