Modeling of Sloshing Problems

Free Surface with Advanced FSI

Sheldon Imaoka
Technical Support Engineer ANSYS, Inc.

2006 ANSYS, Inc.

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Overview of Analysis Two containers partially-filled with a dense fluid undergoing 3Gs in 1 second The objective is to review the structural response of the containers
Fluid The containers are half-filled with a dense fluid. Besides self-weight, the system experiences a 3G loading in the axial direction Rigid housing Containers

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Advanced FSI Capability Although the structural response is desired, an FSI analysis required
If the fluid were treated either as solid elements with negligible shear stiffness or as added mass, the change in fluid distribution would not be accounted for
If this were treated as a purely structural analysis, the dynamic loading of the fluid would not considered correctly.

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Model of Structure Structural analysis used ANSYS 10.0:

Containers meshed with SOLSH190 with multilinear isotropic plasticity Housing is assumed to be rigid Contact with friction defined between all three bodies
SOLSH190 is a 8-node solidshell element. Multilinear isotropic hardening plasticity assumed for the containers. 5% damping included in the model.

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Model of Fluid CFD analysis performed in CFX 10.0:

Fluid and air modeled as free surface flow Initially, it is assumed that the dense fluids are at rest and take up half of the tank
Initial VF and pressures defined via CEL
Because the model is fully enclosed, pressure levels have to be specified. Two separate domains exist, so reference pressure locations specified via CCL

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MFX Overview The MFX solution capability allows complex FSI problems to be solved:
Within each timestep, a stagger loop sends results of one analysis as input to the other Displacements from ANSYS modify fluid domain in CFX. Forces (from pressure and shear stresses) in CFX become loading in ANSYS. (Thermal capability also supported with MFX)
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MFX Analysis Details The MFX solver was used to solve this fluid-structure interaction problem
Loading: constant gravity (1G) in ydirection, acceleration loading (3G) ramped in 1 second, held for 1 second Boundary conditions: symmetry about yz plane assumed Simulation time was 2 seconds with constant timesteps of 0.01 seconds

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MFX Load Transfer The outside of the fluid and the inside of the container transfer loads
Displacements and forces are sent between ANSYS and CFX during solution

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MFX Load Transfer Mapping results can be reviewed

Information on mapping is shown in the output file Mapped forces and displacements are postprocessed on the right

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Solution Convergence Different measures of convergence:

ANSYS: in a given substep, if force equilibrium is not achieved within specified number of equilibrium iterations, bisection occurs or solution stops (if max substeps reached) CFX: in a given coefficient loop, if residuals do not go below specified criteria within maximum number of iterations, solution continues MFX: in a given stagger loop, if transferred (load) quantities do not converge (per equation on left with e<0) within maximum stagger iterations, solution goes to next timestep
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log min e= log max min

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Solution Convergence ANSYS, CFX, and MFX runs can all be monitored during solution:
CFX Solver Manager ANSYS Results Tracker

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Results

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Analysis Runs Three cases considered:

Case 1: CFD analysis only Case 2: FSI analysis with linear elastic materials and high coefficient of friction Case 3: FSI analysis with plasticity and low coefficient of friction

Case 3 is analysis of interest, but Cases 1 and 2 serve to verify model setup

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Case 1: CFX only In the CFD-only case, the walls are assumed to be rigid.

In this animation, 3G loading is ramped in 1 second, held for another second, then ramped down. (Total simulation time is 5 seconds, although only first 2 seconds is of interest.) Note that the response is very similar (symmetric) for the two containers, as expected.

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Case 2: MFX with linear elastic Total axial (z-dir) force is compared:
Total Z-Force vs. Time

With linear elastic material properties and a high coefficient of friction, the resulting deflections are relatively small. Consequently, the CFX forces do not change significantly between the CFD-only case (rigid walls) and MFX case (elastic walls). The forces in ANSYS include the mass of the containers, so that accounts for the slightly larger forces.

CFX (CFD) 0 0 -20000 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8

CFX 1 (MFX)

ANSYS 1 (MFX)

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

-40000

-60000

Force (N)

-80000

-100000

-120000

-140000

-160000

-180000 Time (s)

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Case 2: MFX with linear elastic When comparing total z-force (sum of forces on all walls), the previous two cases provided similar results
This verifies the model setup since there should not be large strains or finite sliding for Case 2. With the verification step complete, the case of interest (next) can be approached with greater confidence.

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Case 3: MFX with plasticity Animation of volume fraction for Case 3:

Note that at the point of contact between the two containers, there is significant deformation occurring because of plastic straining. Also, between the left container and housing, there is also permanent deformation. This results in free surface responses that are not exactly the same (symmetric) between the two containers.

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Case 3: MFX with plasticity Note mesh deformation in highlighted two regions:

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Case 3: MFX with plasticity Total axial (z-dir) force for Case 3:
Total Z-Force vs. Time
CFX (CFD) 0 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2 CFX 2 (MFX) ANSYS 2 (MFX)

With plasticity and a smaller coefficient of friction, there are finite strains as well as sliding. These effects make the dynamic response less smooth during impact between the containers and between the containers and rigid housing.

-20000

-40000

-60000

Force (N)

-80000

-100000

-120000

-140000

-160000

-180000 Time (s)

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Case 3: MFX with plasticity Animation of equivalent stresses:

Z force of left rigid wall of housing is plotted in upperright corner (this differs from previous slide, as that was the sum of Z forces on all walls of rigid housing). Note sliding occurring on the right container. Also, large strains exist in the left container, as seen earlier. During the analysis, although acceleration loading is ramped, the force loading is not linear because of the dynamic loading from the fluid.

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Conclusion
The ANSYS MFX Solver is demonstrated with this sloshing example ANSYS Advanced FSI capabilities make it possible to account for large-deformation, free surface flow coupled problem In situations such as these, only through the coupled treatment can loading be accurately modeled

2006 ANSYS, Inc.

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