Characterization of the dampening of liquid sloshing with foam-like materials

Paper number

IAC-22,E2,3-GTS.4,2,x70377

Author

Mr. Loup Cordey, Switzerland, ZHAW – Zurich University of Applied Sciences

Coauthor

Mr. Maxime Roux, Switzerland, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)

Coauthor

Mr. Benjamin Meunier, Switzerland, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)

Coauthor

Mr. Giuliano Parma, Switzerland, EPFL

Coauthor

Mr. Alain Girard, Switzerland, EPFL

Coauthor

Mr. Florent Piton, Switzerland, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)

Coauthor

Mr. Elyes Ben Chaabane, Tunisia, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)

Year

2022

Abstract

\begin{center}
When a tank is subjected to forced excitation, the liquid it contains undergoes sloshing. This is a recurring phenomenon that affects many fields of industry (aerospace, aeronautics, naval industry, liquid transport) and can lead to numerous complications. To limit sloshing, the various actors in the field prefer structural modifications of the tank. These modifications make the construction more complex and can lead to an increase in the mass of the tanks. It is in this perspective that a study of the sloshing of two-phase liquids in free oscillation was studied.
\\
This experiment was conducted within the framework of the {\bf ERT} (EPFL Rocket Team), a team of undergraduate engineers building rockets to participate in inter-university competitions such as the {\bf SAC} (Spaceport America Cup) and {\bf EuRoC} (European Rocketry Challenge).\\
First, the team worked on the theoretical aspect of the problem; It conducted a battery of experiments on vibrating pots to physically characterize the behavior of liquids with two phases. This experiment consisted of a transparent tank which is filled with a liquid on which rests another liquid of different phase, the whole is subjected to an excitation on a vibrating pot and filmed by a high-speed camera.\\
 It was concluded that it is the upper phase that characterizes the sloshing.
In this perspective, a reflection was carried out to find a liquid or an ersatz of foam suitable to be used in the industry. Polystyrene or cork beads seem to be the most suitable with water: easy to use, light and inexpensive. Forced oscillation studies were therefore carried out in the laboratory to investigate the viability of the concept.\\
It demonstrated that a liquid, with a sufficient layer of beads floating atop of it in a tank, exhibited a remarkable resilience to sloshing and that only a thin amount was enough to dampen up to 90\% of the oscillations.
Then, a team of engineers built an experimental module as a payload for the {\it Wildhorn} rocket, to test the experimental results in supersonic flight and microgravity conditions in October 2022.\\
The experiment consists of a 3D-printed CanSat-sized cylinder that contains two Plexiglas tanks, one containing a liquid without beads and the other with beads floating on its surface. The whole thing is filmed by cameras and recorded on the payload's onboard avionics.\\
The team intends to demonstrate the viability of such a system to counter sloshing in rocket or spacecraft fuel tanks.
\end{center}

Abstract document

IAC-22,E2,3-GTS.4,2,x70377.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-22,E2,3-GTS.4,2,x70377.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.