Sloshing of a two-layer fluid in a vertical cylinder of constant depth

Abstract

Sloshing eigenvalues and eigenfunctions are studied for vertical cylinders of constant, finite depth occupied by a two-layer fluid. Two families of eigenfrequencies are obtained in the form expressing them explicitly via the eigenvalues of the Neumann Laplacian in the two-dimensional domain—the cylinder's cross section. Eigenfrequencies belonging to one of the families behave similar to those that describe sloshing in a homogeneous fluid, whereas the other family includes a large number of sufficiently small frequencies, provided the ratio of densities is close to unity. Various properties of eigenfrequencies are investigated for cylinders of arbitrary cross section; they include the dependence on the interface depth and the ratio of densities, and the asymptotics of the eigenvalue counting function. The behavior of eigenvalues and the corresponding eigenmodes is illustrated by numerical examples for circular cylinders without and with a radial baffle.