An Innovative Design Concept of Modular Pneumatic Floating Platforms

In order to construct a very large floating structure (VLFS) such as a floating city and a runway, many modular units are required. Several VLFSs were proposed by using barge type or semi-submersible type in the past. This paper reviews a historical background of pneumatic and/or air-cushion floating platform at first. Secondly, this paper introduces an innovative design concept of the pneumatic floating structure that can be used for a VLFS which can reduce rocking in rough waves and reduce tilting caused by strong winds as well. Further, pneumatic floating modules can control their buoyant force by adding or reducing the air in the modules by which they can cope with variable loadings on them. Finally, wave tank experiments were conducted at the University of Tokyo to examine seakeeping characteristics of the proposed pneumatic floating platform which was found promising.