TRaC commission: Bespoke slosh test rig

Understanding the physical impact on a vessel from the sloshing effects of the liquid contained within it can be quite a challenge. It is an unusual test requirement, which falls outside the remit of conventional environmental testing and conventional test equipment.

However, TRaC has established an expertise in this area, demonstrated most recently by the completion of a climatic slosh test on an aerospace fuel tank.

With a requirement to simulate a sloshing effect on a 1200 litre, fuel-filled tank, resulting in an oscillating component weighing in excess of 1000 kilograms, at elevated temperature, TRaC designed, built and commissioned a bespoke test rig – before carrying out extensive product testing at its Warwick test laboratory.

Key features and considerations of the rig design included:

• Mounting frame and oscillating cradle
• Servo-controlled hydraulic actuation/oscillation mechanism
• Bespoke control system and complex control algorithms to ensure smooth oscillation according to a 30° sinusoidal motion at a frequency of 16 oscillations per minute
• Custom-built thermal chamber and temperature conditioning and control
• equipment

Our expertise in unusual and unique test requirements is underpinned by over 25 years’ experience in designing and building bespoke test solutions, particularly related to hydraulic and pneumatic fatigue.