Choosing a Contour

The shape of the tank or container is defined by its inner and outer contours. There are two ways to input a contour: the Load Contour and Design Contour functionalities.

Load Contour

Load Contour is used when the tank contour has been created by the user in a 3D modeling software or is being taken from the SLOSH-ML built-in collection. SLOSH-ML has a library of several common tank shapes, including spheres, toroids, cups, and rings. These are provided to the user as .txt files that can be chosen after selecting "Load Contour."

Alternatively, the user can select their own .stl or .txt file that defines the tank shape. If choosing to import a .stl file, the part from which the .stl was created should be completely solid. SLOSH-ML will take the filled-in portion of the part and interpret that as space that can be filled with liquid.

Design Contour

To create a custom shape in the SLOSH-ML app, use the Design Contour feature. After clicking "Design Contour," a new window will appear. The outer contour will be drawn first.

To draw the outer contour, click the grid at one of the contour's corners or enter the coordinates of that point in the right-hand side of the program. From the "Segment Type" dropdown menu, select the line type you want to draw: a circle, line, or ellipse.

Lines

The Line segment type is defined by the final r (radius) and z (height) values. Once the r and z values are typed in, click "Add Line Segment."

When adding Line segments to the outer contour, checking the "draw mode" box allows the user to click points on the grid to create line segments instead of entering coordinates.

Circles

To define the Circle segment type, input the r and z values of the center of the circle and the end of the segment. Alternatively, enter the radius of the arc. Check the "invert" box to reverse the invert the arc. Click "Add Circular Segment" to create the curve.

The "Number of Points" variable can be altered to add more accuracy to the circle segment.

The Circle line segment also has a "draw mode" checkbox that functions similarly to in the Line segment type.

Ellipses

To define the Ellipse segment type, input r and z at the center of the segment, the r and z radii, and the r and z values at the end point. Similarly to the Circle segment type, there is are "Number of Points" and "invert" functions. Click "Add Elliptical Segment" to complete the segment.

The Ellipse segment type does not include a "draw mode."

In all of the different segment creation methods, there is an Undo button.

To complete the outer contour, click "Finish Outer Contour." Next, draw the inner contour using the same method. Once the inner contour is complete, the gaps between corners will be filled in automatically.

Images

SLOSH-ML has a functionality where a user can upload an image to trace the contours of a tank. To do so, click "Load Image" above the grid and choose the locations of the origin and a reference point that is a known distance from the origin. Then, create the outer and inner contours of the tank like normal. To remove the image from the display, click "Clear Image."

Log

The log is a display of all of the steps the user takes in creating a contour.

Comments

On the right side of the Design Contour menu, there is a box for comments where the user can write, save, load, and clear notes for personal reference.