Slosh dynamics

Slosh dynamics studies liquid motion and the resulting forces in partially filled containers, especially when the containers move or accelerate.

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Free-surface flow: Fluid flow in which a liquid surface is exposed to a gas, rather than confined by a solid boundary. The moving liquid surface is the defining boundary of most sloshing motion.
Spacecraft propellant tank: A tank that stores liquid fuel or oxidizer for a spacecraft propulsion system. Propellant motion can disturb vehicle pointing and complicate engine feed.
Fluid mechanics: The study of fluids at rest and in motion, including liquids and gases. Slosh dynamics applies fluid mechanics to liquids in moving containers.
Rigid-body dynamics: The study of motion of bodies treated as having fixed shape and internal structure. A rigid-liquid approximation misses the shifting mass and forces central to sloshing.
Surface gravity wave: A wave on a liquid surface whose restoring force is primarily gravity. Container acceleration excites surface waves that dominate many slosh responses.
Rocket propellant management: Methods for controlling liquid propellant location and delivery inside a rocket tank. Slosh control helps keep propellant available at the engine inlet during flight.
Hydrostatics: The study of fluids at rest and the pressures they exert. Static pressure provides the baseline for pressures altered by sloshing.
Fluid-structure interaction: Coupled behavior in which fluid motion and structural deformation influence one another. Sloshing is one form of fluid-structure interaction, even when tank walls are nearly rigid.
Natural frequency: The frequency at which a system oscillates freely after being disturbed. Driving near a slosh mode's natural frequency can greatly amplify liquid motion.
Liquid cargo ship: A vessel designed to transport liquids in large tanks or cargo holds. Partial filling lets cargo waves impose significant loads on ship structures.