REPORT NO SM-137l48

T FORCES PRODUCED BY FUEL OscTr,1ION

IN A RECTAIiC-ULAR TANK

By E. W Graham

r
- "1LJLJLJ.I L_.
I

April 13, 1950

Revised:
ApriJ. 16, 1951

ApDroved.:

Douglas Aircraft Company, Inc.

Santa !ionica, California
 SiMLRY

If large quantities of fuel are.carried. in an airplane, and. the fuel

tanks are partially .full,' then appreciable forces may be exerted on the

airplane because of fuel oscillation in the tanks.

In stud.yiig the effect of fuel oscillations on airplane dynmc sta-

bility it is convenient to replace the fuel b a simple pendulum plus a

. fixed. mass.

For the simple case of a stationary rectangular tank with. small sinu-

soidal fuel oscillations the pendulum characteristics are determined. The

fundamental frequency of the wave motion and the corresponding pressure

distribution on the tank are obtained from LPrfQTS tTffYOdCSf By

inteatjon, forces and moments are obtained so that the axis of the pendu

lum can be located and the amplitude of oscillation determined for a given.

pendulum mss.

Horizontal forces are also determined by direct use o± Newonts lai,

and so related tthe time history Of the free surface shape. This rela-

tion is not restricted, to small amplitudes of wave motion.

It is noted that in general the ouly free surface shapes which recur

peiodiclly in rectangular tanks are the. simJ.e sine vav forms..

In Appendix 1 the fundamental frequencies and forces involved in

fluid. oscillation are. given for several simple tank shapes in.add.itiOn to

the rectangular case. .

 TRODU.CTIQIT

In tudying the effect of fuel "sloshing" on airplane dnamic stabiiity,

it is convenient tb replace the fuel mass bya simple pendulum, or by a

simple pendulum plus a fixed mass. In order to find the equivaleiit pend.u-

lum it is necessary toknow the period of the fuel motion, and the maii-

tude, dirctio and location of the resltt force.

If all of the fuel mass is assumed. to act as a pendulum then its angular

displacement will be email copezed to the angular dislacezent of the free

surface for the "deep watertt case. It may be convenient to associate a

fraction of the fuel mass with the pendulum so that the angular motion of

the endulum approximates the angular motion of the free surface. The.

remajnder of the fuel mass is then considered to be fixed.

The simple ease of a rectangular tank with snall sirusoidal fuel.oscii-

ltions is studied here.* Tancs of compie shape coui&be investigated, but

the mathemtjcl difficultIes would be much eater,

It is also possible to study free surface shapes other than sinusoidal,

but these are In general non-recurring shapes since they are cOosed of

Fourier series terms each of rhich has a different time frequency. The

higher frequencies are not in enerl integral multiple's of the basic. fre-

quency.

In the study of large amplitudes of motion nOn-linearities are intro-

duced. These non-linearities occ'ür in the boundary conditions at the free

sface rather than in the basic partial differential eauation (which, is

the .Laplae equation), but still add mathematical problems too great to be

considered here. -

*In Appendix 1 the oscillation frequenies and forces are given for
some other simple shapes.
 To be strictly accurate in repiesentin the fuel as a pendulum it

would be necessy to consider an effective omeit of inertia Of the fuel

about its center of avity. This effective moment of inertia depends.

on the tank shape and is in eeral less than if the fuel rotated as a

solid. Since the ratio of this fuel moment of inertia to airblare moment

of inertia is ordinarilr much less than the ratio of fuel mass to airplane

mass, this effect Is negiected. -

 The Velocity P6tential and Pressure

Consider a rectangular tank of unit -.iidth with small ambltude fuej.

oscillations which are idetical in all planes parallel to the x - y plane.

H
The velocity potential is1

- -ga
-.
a-c0512
csh) iy cas () cos&- -he)
(1)

L7t -
'where k = n-i an integer

g k tanh (k h)

a = maximuni amplitude 0±' the wave

g = acceleration due to avity

h depth of undisturbed iiquid

= length. of tank

x = horizontal. dispiacment

y = vertical displacement

t=tinie

6 = phase angle -.

The pressure increment above, atmospheric at any point in 'the liquid,

(neglecting a terfl involving veloity squared) is1

(2)

'vhere 0
 Duth' -

:orizonta1 Force

The pressure difference between pothts at the same elevation on the

left hand arid right hand sides of the nk is

Q(=;- [&} (3)

The horizontal force exerted on the tank is

'5; = !tL.= [ø) *

where the small .apiitude of oscillation justifies inteating over the

undisturbed. fitrid depth. . -

For the lowest freouency oscillation m = 1 d

cc3/
cash(Tii)
sin(t) (5)

(6)
,&17x /9&]x9 = za
- cosh
= 2g?Z 6,fl(Qt,'E 47 civ (7)
cos/i (?Z-

ettthg = tan Q', as illustrated and fitrid weight WF = ghJ

£1

I £9

w1iri. /. Osrn(c-)
ft)
L
 The naxixi.
(,\_ t()
force corresponds to sin (at =1.0

(o).

for (< 1/2, tanh () () d

1wi
for > 1/2, tanh () I and

(4Qn " (12).

v1/'TrhJ
The above results are illustrated in Figure 1.

Period of the Oscillation

The period of the fun e'ta1 oscillation is

= = rr/ cch(irA)
/ (-3)

or h) côh 'q Period

"Shallow water" perio

1
For < , coth , -:-..
(ti1. and
Le)

"shallow watert' period (15)

for ) , cöth () '.1. and

'deep water" period (16)

The above resui.ts are shown i Figure -,

p.
0
 njI-1;- in:- . i:t i:i Ti -j fl}:fl :i1: TTT:T1
11:L
T;- 4i j j i-ij- ii": j
,".l 1
14t :: 4
I -
4 4
1
I I I' i
;T t j
Tt
L
,- 4f T I

1! Ii
t
4 : F LT
'4T j4ji_
tt - r
V 0::
1
1ii ' : F
11 j + ! :[1l
J- i
:H // it::.' ;ft1!1It :1T
LrJ , J4L L i
-
12'1çi LFT :I
4 t't
L F "i lii
: ' 4l
I : Tii i' L! ;et#M
tt f- ft
j- '4 1jL!.1!1 tL 4:i:L' EL _f1_[
:4t p t '
4, .t :"
k± Li '
1 TI14 : LII t (i El 'it; L-
:
ht:4fL i Tr i_1 :
Ii , L[4
t_1 -. -1 I r _
i11 _J
I
i/ ' :
-.
I ]_
'-- _L_ fnt;:i
p 4
-r-a i'f- -#' -'* F fljL r
-' j tJ
<< , T1
1
£tg - 4-
i)c3f'ri t i: h 1 i-i L__i±\ ( I.., (1
_,' -, -.-I - 4 _- 'iL'
:
:L t 1A
TtTi Lk I
T1
ITIT }f1fr
i: '
It 4:
*
I I 'f I -
I I
1 P
ILt 7'0 r91
rL fl2'1
- f'c/ç, i! A7 MI11 L -
I jrkt I LJ
Location o± the HorizontalForce

The rment of the horizontal force about th free surace.s

N/h
= 1ii4L- ydj ('7)

Substituting from Eq. (6) vith sin (at E) = 1.0 (ici corresponds to

the maximum horizontal force) gives

= 2..9Ct j'f COSh/1zf2tth2] dJ( (.i8)

Inteation by parts gives

1'
,A/j17.
cash 7r74 7T
rco5h(A) _/-1
I
Dividing M by the imum horizontal force from (8), vith
sin (at +) 1.0, locates the force at

= 4 flcash()
Jr
L sin()
LocatiOn of the Vertical Force -

The pressure on the bottom of the tank is, from Eq. (2)

e=eL$ AJ
The moment about the left-hand side of the tank sith s.n (at + ) = 1.0

is
f /-Coh() çsi / x dx (22)

or ,vij (23)

Since the vertical force IS glf the position of the force i givei by

- 2 c2 (21.)
-wa
c.

(-7-J
Location of the Reu1tant Force
The maximum resultant force passes through the point defined by Eqs.
(20) and (2k) and the tangent Of its angle of inclination to the vertical is
= ZcLaflh('17) (25)

The intersection of'the resultant force vith the vertical centerline

of the tank is found by cOmparing similar triangles and has the vertical
coordinate

cash .21 (26)

TE iiuJ
9 _/
The axis of the equivalent simple pendulum is located at x
=

Chracteristcs of the Equivalent SimplePe ndulum

The period of a simple pendulim of length L is

P27t1t '. (27).

om Eq. (13) the period of the fdientai oscil1tion i the tank ±s

p= 2 iT c-Ji (A) (13)

-/17
The length of the equivalent pendulum is then

2.
e
coh (2z)tei (28)

If 0, the maximum angular displacement of the pendulum frog the vertical,

is chosen to be = 0' (the approximate free surfae maximum angular displace-
ment) then by reference to Eq. (10) the pendulum weight gust be

- .Qnh (2) (29)

9
 The effective fuel weight We is then the weight. of the. fuel contained

in a depth = tanh (f-). The remainder of the ±uei is considered as a

fixed weight.
Sunarizing the pendulun characteristics (which are also shown in

Figure 2)

cohfrM/
anh (2)
FR e =
/
ccsh ()

Ii It tfl
For shallow ter (-p- smalJ.) rrie cbaracteistcs become

WF COF 9=

For "deep water" ( large) the charactaristics become

10
 .::: 1!L1 i!l:1_iI _ i1[!I 4III !1[tt
L LL. jJ1_

_I_
_ t:_iliI

_ti --j
H PMJ/tUAf /MR9C /S*/CL L' L

L
::
èJ
::.. ;
1:
--4 -,- ;

---
--
2i- - .-.T:-
1
--'_:ç_ --- .- - : 1 H
t___I
I LL J 1. L . ' Wioii
1

o . L
-
J
__1i'f
-::: r'4.Z .:: - .:
_: ;L;

2
;'_._ .''_ --r:'
r
.:'. :i'
Y :

t:1 ;: r: _ TF
_
--4 T -l-H
-
* r ..:
_-:..tr- .
.
I

,t:
.H'1
: v:;',:.
.

:rJ ..
''
: rI I ii_ !' .

o4ii-
r
L I
We WX O IP4WPOf&'M L

ujI-
I , ,

I
--t-
--
i :::
r

L '2D,

Li!ii
I I t I r

':_. -- :Iil1..
TETT iT ,

:r::::t:Ljt11,1it,,:: - - -
-
: :1: i: -
TI
fl t-t 1 *
t -

..,i .LL4
ti:g; 11: :. .
I
T I
::t i1 I:
I

t - 1
IhI I' lit iL

4 I 1 1
I I

1t i1
1 I

ft f
jI t I 4
-.
I
-
'14
1
r
1
I
Horizontal Force Obtained Directly from Newton's Law

By smming the rate of change of horizontal momentum for all fluid

effc dxt
particles
(33)

This can also be itten as

= e/f a'Y
. /
ff
ef[dxdy.
dx dy / (34)
I
or Fh is eGual. to the mass of the fluid ltiplied b the horizontal accel-

eration of its center of avity.

For an incompressible homogeneous fluid in a statiory tank the center

of avity position can vary as the shape of the free surface varies.

The relation between center of avity ositIoz aid free surface shape is

as follows.

Let = (x, t) define the free surface an let the horizontal

velocity of the C.G. of the fluid = V G then

,__
'V -
- e; ()
The horizontal acceleration of the C.G. i

a' P Lx clx.
(.36)

aid Fh becomes

dx

This exDression is not resticted to small amolitudes of motion.

For a simple harmonic motion of the free surface

= f(x) sn? -

and , -I

=
 The fuel transferred frorn one side of the tank to t1e other. in a half

cycle is = 2g dx and the moment change is M.= 2f ' a')(

Then the CG. shift for this fuel quantity is

26 = 2LiXdX (39)
2f"dX.
and the rnaxirnu horizotal force is given, by

Ph (1!.o)

This force corresponds to the centrifugal force produced by rotatIng

1T on an of radius 5 at he angular velocity o-

13
 RE.L'iiHE NCES

Lamb, tEydrodyiamics",, Sixth Edition, Articles 227, 228

Lamb, ".Hydrodynam!cs, Sixth Edition, Articles:190, 257

Lamb, 'IIydrodynaniics", Sixth Edition, 'ArtIcles 191, 257'

Lamb, "Eydrodynm'ics", Sixth Ed±tion, Article 256

Lamb, "Iiyärodynamics", Sixth Edition, Article 259

6. Smith, Charles C., Jr., "The Effects of Fel Sloshing on the

Lateral Stability of a Free-Flying Airplane 4od.e1,"
N.A.C.A. R.M. #I8c16

Brotm, K., "Laboratory Test of Fuel Sloshing," Report No. Dev. 783,
Douglas Aircraft Company, Inc., Santa Moflica plant

11.
 APPEND DC 1

Fufldseta1 Frequencies and Forces for

Liquids Oscillating Th Tanks of Simple Shape

A tabulation of fwidenta1 frequencies nd forces isiven for

several tanks of siniDle shape, most of the information being, obtained.

from Lams "Hydrodynamics." For the first three cases the velocity

potentials are known and the correct free surface forms, oscillation

frequenies and forces are given.

Where velocity potentials satisfying all the boünry conditions

are riot available, the free surface is assumed. to be a plane. This

corresponds to neglecting the condition that a constant pressure must

be maintained over the free surface at all times. For case IV a ve-

locity potential is known for this odied prob3em, and the frequency

shown under IV-1--A is then determined, by eqiating the maximum ki±ietic

energy of the fluid to the maximum potential eiergy, and assuming

simie haoaic nioton.

For case V-i-A it is assumed that the hemisphere is divided into

a number of half discs by vertical planes parallel to the direction..

of the oscillation This approximatioi permits the use of IV-l-A to

obtain V-i-A by irtegration. - -

When the liquid is replaced 'by a igid body the frequency can be

obtained as before. by assumIng simple harmonic motion and equating

the maximum kinetic energy of the "pendulum" to its maximum potential

energy.

15
 The maximum horizontal forces (Fh) pro.Uced. by fluid. osillations

are obtained, from Equation (li.0) after finding the horizontal position

Of the centroid of the transfrred liauid.. The formuias for forces

are tabulated in dimensionless form where W is

!.'. ratzG'
the total weiit of fiu±d in the tank. The tan Q7 is taken as the

ximum vertical displacement of the free surface from its static pos±

tion divided. by half the maximum length of the tank. This maximum

vertical d±splacemént occurs at the tank wall. Ecuation (L.0) can be

rewritten to give:

F' g
tczn a'
"k'' '
The quantity ( is obtained from the actual (or asuxied)

free surface - shape and. the total fltid. weight. Values are. tabü.lated

below for the fire cases:

Case I II III I\T V

(WY- .2955R 2/z.. 41? 3)?

WFtaa9Y 7Th iz 377 6'

.Lt
 Fundamental Frequencies and Forces for Liquids
Oscillating in anks of Simple Shape

References
N. Configuration Remarks Freciuency = a for
L-
-

(Period /
cio)
r'
Frequencies If CtI?. 6 F

*
Ref tcnhl ç7T/)
t::u' = /- -
1

/ ,-_--- - agree with test data( to within

± -5% and ± 10% resPectively.

k- --1 g = acceleration due (5o4 /QR =

to gravity
*

eirono
meiric functions
Ref 3 44J tcfnh(506 1T/t

iii Fiee surface a plane Ref i

667
=

I
- 1) Free surface assumed a plane
- A) Larlace equaton = /169 (-*) A) Ref 5 5C0
satisfied
I
R B) Fluid treoted as rigid 360
body
- 0. I
R)
-
i) Free surface assimied a plane
A) Flow constructed from = 1.228 .565

surface
B) Fiuidtre:tedasa
= ° (* 351
f fi rigid body / /6 3 (1.)
2)E:ital 2 1? 2) Ref.6 507-
*potentjai flow soluti.o for small oscillatlois apProximate soluti on