Impact response of a partially filled fuel tank subjected to high-velocity projectiles

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the effects of baffles and various other design changes on a partially filled fuel tank subjected to high-velocity projectile impact. Modelling of the tank filled with water is done using ANSYS software. The Eulerian domain is used to analyse water, whereas the Lagrangian domain is used to assess the tank and bullet. The developed finite element model is verified with available results in the literature. The effect of design parameters like edge fillet, number of baffles, thickness of baffles, orientation of baffles, height of baffles, position of the projectile and projectile speed on the impact responses of the fuel tank is studied. From the analysis results, it could be observed that the edge fillet provided the minimum stress due to the lower stress concentration on the fuel tank, but it was not effective in decreasing the velocity of the projectile. Therefore, the baffles are introduced inside the fuel tanks, which are highly effective in reducing the velocity and generating huge stress on the tanks. The velocity and position of the projectiles are also varied to understand their effect on the fuel tank.

KEYWORDS:

• High-velocity impact
• fuel tank
• baffles
• finite element method
• impact response

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data Availability Statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Anurag Purbey

Mr. Anurag Purbey currently studying M.S in Energy Science and Technology at Ulm University, Ulm, Germany. He received Bachelor of Engineering from Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, India. His area of interest is Solar Energy and Electrochemical Storage.

Rajeshkumar Selvaraj

Dr. Rajeshkumar Selvaraj obtained his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India. His fields of expertise include Composite Structures, Smart materials, Honeycomb materials, Nano composites, Vibration control, Static analysis, Finite element modeling, and Structural optimization. He has published many papers in International web of science indexed journals. He is working as a reviewer of many peer-reviewed International journals.

Manoharan Ramamoorthy

Dr. Manoharan Ramamoorthy is working as an Associate Professor in the Department of Design and Automation at Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, India. He did his PhD degree in Mechanical Engineering at VIT, Vellore, India. He does research in Structural Engineering (Vibration Control on Structures and Machines using smart materials like MR fluid, MR Elastomer and honeycomb materials), Acoustic Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.