Damping in sloshing flow with ceiling effect

The sloshing flow, when the liquid free surface reaches in some instant during the oscillating period the ceiling of the tank, is analyzed. The damping factor is obtained by a simplified theory of small perturbation which evaluates the force at the ceiling on the assumption that the dominant motion of sloshing corresponds with that given by linear theory of a potential flow. The experimental investigation is carried out with a rigid tank partially filled by water, fixed to an oscillating table laterally excited by a sinusoidal force of given frequency and amplitude. The liquid velocity, near the free surface, is measured by a laser Doppler velocimeter. The damping factor is obtained by the bandwidth technique applied to the analysis of the velocity rms versus the frequency of the acting force.