Repeatability and Practical Ergodicity of 2D Sloshing Experiments

The present paper focuses on the statistical analysis of impact pressure peaks registers in 2-D harmonic motion model scale sloshing experiments. A series of 100 experiments each comprising about 100 impact events has been conducted, seeking the highest feasible repeatability. The statistical analysis focuses on the ensemble distribution of the maximum pressure during these impact events. Particular attention is given to the time domain evolution of such distributions, in order to separate stochastic transient from stochastic steady state. Statistical characteristics of impact pressure for different peaks are discussed in the ensemble domain. Particular attention is given to the connection between the characteristics of the ensemble distribution of impact pressure and the process of CFD validation. Finally, the (practical) ergodicity of the process is dealt with by checking to what extent steady state ensemble statistical information can be obtained from a single long run experiment.