I. Computational Modeling of Micro Gravity Propellant Sloshing Dynamics

Project Number: 138298/154139
Project Time: January 2018 - December 2020
Project Team: İbrahim ÖZKÜÇÜK, Utkan ÇALIŞKAN, M. Serdar ÇELEBİ

In spacecraft and rockets, advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models are used to analyze sloshing in liquid fuel tanks, enabling real-time load calculations and the assessment of forces and moments acting on the vehicle due to the shifting center of mass of the fuel. During sudden and rapid maneuvers, fuel sloshing within the tank can lead to deviations in the spacecraft’s or rocket’s orbital trajectory. Additionally, under microgravity (near-zero gravity) conditions, various passive, active, and hybrid solutions are modeled to ensure uninterrupted fuel delivery to the propulsion system, enabling thrust generation under extreme space conditions. All models are validated through experimental studies conducted under both normal gravity and microgravity conditions to assess their accuracy and reliability.