Comparison of finite element and pendulum models for simulation of sloshing

The pendulum model is a cost effective tool for the simulation of sloshing. However, the accuracy and applicability of the model has not been well established. In this article, we compare the simulation results obtained from the pendulum model and a more complicated finite element model for sloshing of liquids in tanker trucks. In the pendulum model, we assume that the liquid in the tanker is a point mass oscillating like a frictionless pendulum subjected to an external acceleration. In the finite element model, we solve the full Navier-Stokes equations written for two fluids to obtain the location and motion of the free surface. Stabilized finite element formulations are used in these complex 3D simulations. These finite element formulations are implemented in parallel using the message-passing interface libraries. The numerical example includes the simulation of sloshing in tanker trucks during turning.