Simulation of Multiliquid-Layer Sloshing With Vessel Motion by Using Moving Particle Semi-Implicit Method

For oil/gas production/processing platforms, multiple liquid layers can exist and their respective sloshing motions can also affect operational effectiveness or platform performance. To numerically simulate those problems, a new multiliquid moving particle simulation (MPS) method is developed. In particular, to better simulate the relevant physics, robust self-buoyancy model, interface searching model, and surface-tension model are developed. The developed multiliquid MPS method is validated by comparisons against experiment in which three-liquid-sloshing experiment and the corresponding linear potential theory are given. The validated multiliquid MPS program is subsequently coupled with a vessel-motion program in time domain to investigate their dynamic-coupling effects. In case of multiple liquid layers, there exists a variety of sloshing natural frequencies for respective interfaces, so the relevant physics can be much more complicated compared with the single-liquid-tank case. The simulation program can also reproduce the detailed small-scale interface phenomenon called Kelvin–Helmholtz instability. The numerical simulations also show that properly designed liquid cargo tank can also function as a beneficial antirolling device.