Fluid Structure Interaction Analysis of Liquid Tanks by the Coupled SPH - FEM Method with Experimental Verification

The paper presents the comparison of the results between the numerical model developed for the simulation of the fluid-structure interaction problem and the experimental tests. The model is based on the so called “partition scheme” in which the equations governing the fluid’s pressures and the equations governing the displacement of the structure are solved separately, with two distinct solvers. The SPH (Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics) method is used for the fluid and the standard FEM (Finite Element Method), based on shell elements, is used for the structure. Then, the two solvers are coupled to obtain the coupled behaviour of the fluid structure system. The elasto plastic material model for the structure includes some important nonlinear effects like yielding in compression and tension. Previously experimentally tested (on a shaking table) rectangular tanks with rigid and deformable walls were used for the verification of the developed numerical model. A good agreement between the numerical and the experimental results clearly shows that the developed model is suitable and gives accurate results for such problems. The numerical model results are validated with the experimental results and can be a useful tool for analyzing the behaviour of liquid tanks of larger dimensions.