Set-up of a sloshing laboratory at the University of Western Australia

摘要

A university laboratory has been equipped for carrying out ex-rnperiments on sloshing dynamics inside tanks. In a frst seriesrnof runs the measurement of the sloshing pressure on the wallsrnof a rectangular tank at various flling levels were carried out.rnFor this activity the pressure time histories at some specifc loca-rntions together with the instantaneous position of the tank werernrecorded. Furthermore, images of the sloshing events with a highrnspeed video camera, have been acquired in synchronization withrnthe other signals.rnThe design and operation of such a facility involved a number ofrnforeseen activities but also mitigation of least anticipated roadrnblocks. Many of these were resolved on the go. Since the en-rntire activity was to be carried out in a university environmentrnpart of the equipment was developed in-house. This approachrnhas the advantage of considerable rexibility but on the contraryrnunforeseen diu000eculties can arise.rnThis paper aims to report on the problems that were faced dur-rning the set-up and operation and suitable solutions that werernadopted. Some of the topics reported here have to do with therntechnological aspects of the measuring chain while others arernmore related to the physics of the row. The following issues,rnwere of particular importance: 1) signal conditioning; 2) oper-rnation of the pressure transducers; 3) choice of the optimal sam-rnpling frequency; 4) synchronization of the signals and the images;rn5) testing procedure and order of the operations; 6) data storagernand test logging.