Sloshing mitigation in liquid storage tanks using vertical floating wooden baffles

Abstract

Liquid storage tanks (LSTs) are essential infrastructure but susceptible to failure due to liquid sloshing during seismic events. This sloshing generates additional hydrodynamic forces, which can impose pressure on the tank walls. Conventional methods to mitigate sloshing often rely on rigid internal structures, which can be expensive and inflexible. To overcome these challenges, the present study investigates the effects of lightweight floating wooden baffles that adapt to the liquid level within the tanks, offering a more flexible and cost-effective solution. This research aims to assess the performance of vertical floating wooden baffles in mitigating sloshing within liquid storage tanks. Numerical analysis was conducted on 3D ground-supported rectangular tanks with seven different baffle configurations, including both solid and porous designs, using the arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) approach in ABAQUS. The models were subjected to horizontal seismic ground motion records from the Imperial Valley and Northridge earthquakes. Critical parameters such as sloshing wave height, hydrodynamic pressures and kinetic energy in the LST were analysed. The findings reveal that porous wooden baffles positioned near the tank walls are particularly effective in reducing sloshing and the associated hydrodynamic forces, offering a cost-efficient solution to enhance the safety of LSTs during seismic events. © Indian Academy of Sciences 2025.