LAUSR

This paper presents an assessment of the problems encountered with the design, dynamics and stability of road tankers. Generally, the research activities pertaining to these problems may be classified into three groups, liquid sloshing dynamics in moving containers, trucks dynamics carrying solids, and dynamic coupling of liquid-vehicle systems. The modal analysis of liquid free surface for circular, elliptic and generic cross-section geometries is presented together with the corresponding equivalent mechanical models. Considering popularity of horizontal elliptic cross-section tanks, the trammel equivalent pendulum received extensive research activities and the main results are discussed. Design optimisation of the liquid container cross-section and the passive and active control of liquid sloshing approaches are used by engineers to minimise rollover problem. The most difficult problem of road tankers is the coupling dynamics of liquid and vehicle dynamics under different conditions such as braking and lateral acceleration; in this view, computer numerical simulations have been developed.