Sloshing and slamming

elbe features various different kernels for the simulation of violent tank sloshing and slamming forces.

Depth-averaged models

For simple tank geometries, simulations on the basis of non-linear, viscous shallow water equations are sufficient to describe the relevant physics and the elbe shallow water kernels can be applied. Even though this implies several assumptions (negligible vertical velocity components of the flow field, simple geometries), the numerical results agree very well with experimental reference data and results of more complex and complete numerical models.


Tank sloshing in a tank with L=B=10m and a water height of h=1m.

  • S. Bengel, "Eine LB-Methode zur numerischen Simulation der Flüssigkeitsbewegungen in teilgefüllten Tanks", Bachelor Thesis, December 2012.
  • C. Janßen, S. Bengel, H. Dankowski and T. Rung, "A Fast Numerical Method for Internal Flood Water Dynamics to Simulate Water on Deck and Flooding Scenarios of Ships.", OMAE Paper 2013-10833, 2013.

Fully-resolved models

If more complete flow field information and e.g. information on pressure signals is required, the full 2D or 3D Navier-Stokes equations have to be solved.


Sloshing in a two-dimensional tank, 2D-VOF simulation.

  • S. Gralher, "Numerische Simulation von Sloshing und Wellenschlag", Bachelor Thesis, July 2012.