Phd in AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ENGINEERING

Thesis title: CFD-Based Optimization of Baffles for Enhanced Damping in Liquid Sloshing

Liquid sloshing in partially filled tanks represents a long-standing yet complex problem in fluid dynamics, with critical implications for aerospace, marine, and energy systems. The main goal of this thesis is to enhance sloshing mitigation through optimized passive damping devices, focusing on the influence of baffle geometry, flexibility, and perforation. A mesh-based numerical framework is developed by coupling Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Computational Structural Dynamics (CSD) within a consistent finite-volume/finite-element approach. After a thorough validation through benchmark studies, mesh sensitivity, and convergence analyses, the methodology is applied to cylindrical tanks equipped with rigid, flexible, and perforated baffles. The innovative aspect of this work lies in the development and application of a mesh-based, two-way fluid–structure interaction (FSI) procedure to a multiphase scenario such as liquid sloshing, a problem that is often addressed in the literature using meshless SPH approaches. Perforated baffles are also investigated, demonstrating that both porosity and perforation pattern critically affect sloshing attenuation. Finally, a Reduced-Order Model (ROM) based on a damped pendulum analogy is derived from CFD data, enabling efficient dynamic predictions. Overall, the work advances the numerical modeling of sloshing phenomena and provides design guidelines for effective, lightweight, and computationally efficient anti-sloshing devices.