THE DYNAMICS OF A NONLINEAR-SYSTEM SIMULATING LIQUID SLOSHING IMPACT IN MOVING STRUCTURES

In this paper the non-linear modal interaction is examined betwen liqu id hydrodynamic impact and an elastic support structure. The liquid im pact is modelled based on a phenomenological concept by introducing a power non-linearity with a higher exponent. A special saw-tooth time t ransformation (STTT) technique is used analytically to describe the in -phase and out-of-phase strongly non-linear periodic regimes. Based on explicit forms of analytical solutions, all basic characteristics of the non-linear free and forced response regimes, such as the time hist ory, the amplitude-frequency dependence and the non-linear parametric resonance curves, are estimated. The response behavior reveals that a high frequency out-of-phase non-linear mode takes place with a relativ ely small tank amplitude, and is more stable than the in-phase oscilla tion mode under small perturbations. The in-phase mode has relatively large tank amplitudes and does not preserve its symmetry under periodi c parametric excitation. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limited.