Technical feasibility and practical design method of SSMF, a Semi-Submersible-Type-Megafloat, was studied under research funding from Corporation for Advanced Transport and Technology. A SSMF which serves as a airport for local air transportation of isolated islands was assumed in the research. Typical deck size of the SSMF is 2200m long, 300m wide and 9m deep. In the design of the SSMF, column supported type structure was chosen to satisfy the strength and functional requirements in the environmental condition around Japanese islands in the pacific ocean. The deck structure is supported by 320 columns with draft of 16m. In the design of structural dynamics of the SSMF, a computer code VODAC was adopted to calculate hydro-elastic response. VODAC is an analysis program of hydro-elastic response of Very Large Floating Structure (VLFS) which has been developed in University of Tokyo. This paper presents a series of experiments and calculations carried out to investigate response characteristics of SSMF and to confirm capability and accuracy of VODAC. Basin experiments were carried out using a scale model, which is elastically and dynamically similar to the designed SSMF airport, and the response characteristics were clarified. A simple numerical model was also proposed as a simplified model of dynamic response of VLFS. This model is a simple beam on elastic foundation, but it is shown that basic response characteristics of the structure can be relatively accurately expressed by this model. Design parameters were discussed using this model. Relationships between major design parameters and dynamic response characteristics were clarified. Furthermore it was shown that this model is not just a qualitative model but gives relatively accurate estimation of the response. It is shown that this model gives upper limits of response of real structure and a good safe side estimation.
Effect of In-plane Elastic Response and Space Correlation of Wind on Progressive Collapse Behavior of Mooring System of Very Large Floating Structure