Experimental and numerical analysis of the fluid flow behavior of a tank corner impacting a water surface

Abstract

The interaction of a tank impacting a water surface is an extremely complex nonlinear multiphase flow phenomenon. In this study, experiments and numerical simulations are used to systematically investigate the flow physics and load characteristics of a tank corner impacting a water surface. Free surface flow at different fall heights (200–800 mm) and inclination angles (0°–15°) was obtained through free fall experiments. The volume of fluids method and overset grid technology were used to simulate the water impact process of a three-dimensional structure accurately. For typical bubble flows, the numerical and experimental results agree well. On the basis of the three-dimensional flow characteristics and pressure distribution, flow behaviors, such as fluid climbing, corrugation disturbances, and air cavity effects, are analyzed. Bubble flow has a significant effect on the behavior mode of the impact load. In particular, the bubbles at the upper wall play a key role in the load characteristics at different locations. In addition, the influences of corrugations inside the tank's corner and the impact velocity on fluid flow were investigated. These results provide beneficial references for an in-depth understanding of the fluid flow and load characteristics between a tank and fluid.