CFD ANALYSIS OF SLOSHING IN THE WATER TANK OF FOREST FIRE TRUCK DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING

Abstract

Minimizing the sloshing of liquids such as gasoline, oil, and water in storage tanks during transportation is particularly important. In this study, water sloshing in the storage tank of a multi-purpose forest fire fighting vehicle was analyzed using the CFD method, assuming the vehicle was moving at 80 km/h, braking sharply to a stop within 40 m, and then remaining stationary for a period. The 6.13 m³ tank was analyzed at fill levels of 5.40 m³, 4.32 m³, and 2.16 m³ with two tank designs with and without baffles. The time-varying pressure on the front and rear walls aligned with the motion direction of the vehicle is examined for all cases. The results indicated that the baffle plates in the tank design significantly reduced sudden pressure surges and peak pressures on the tank walls, particularly at lower fill levels. Therefore, applying baffle plate designs effectively controls liquid oscillations within the tank of the forest fire fighting vehicle, especially under emergency braking conditions. This enhancement contributes to improved vehicle performance and safety.