Regime maps for sloshing in horizontal cylindrical tanks under vertical acceleration
Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 084804 – Published 28 August, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/t48x-53br
Abstract
Vertical excitation of partially filled horizontal cylindrical tanks can induce large-amplitude sloshing, particularly when the forcing frequency approaches twice the fundamental sloshing frequency, leading to parametric resonance. Under these conditions, parametric resonance can trigger exponential growth of free-surface perturbations, leading to large-amplitude waves, interface breakup, and enhanced mixing. In this work, we experimentally investigate the sloshing regimes associated with this primary parametric instability. Experiments are conducted in a transparent horizontal cylindrical tank () over a range of fill ratios and excitation conditions. A data-driven, image-based methodology is developed to identify and classify sloshing regimes directly from high-speed visualizations. The approach combines multiscale proper orthogonal decomposition for feature extraction with prototype-based clustering and support vector machine classification. The results are summarized in a dimensionless regime map across three fill ratios (), distinguishing stable free-surface conditions, dominant longitudinal modes, and mixed or mode-interaction regimes. The map provides a structured characterization of the flow responses in the vicinity of the primary parametric resonance.