• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.32 no.2A
• /
• pp.75-83
• /
• 2012

In this study, an analytical studies were carried out for the buoyancy preflexion method to improve structural performance of concrete floating structures. The buoyancy preflexion means that the preflexion effects were induced to the floating structure due to the difference in buoyancy between the pontoon modules composing the floating structures. In order to verify the buoyancy preflexion effects, an analytical studies were carried out for the floating structures. The size and dimensions of FE model were determined through the structural design process. The parameter of this analytical study was length ratios of central module part, which induces buoyancy preflexion effects, to the total length. The analysis results were pre-compression on the bottom concrete slab and displacement of freeboard due to buoyancy preflexion effects. These results were processed according to the loading step, buoyancy preflexion loads on the bottom and live loads on the topside. Then, the buoyancy preflexion effects on structural performance was analyzed. As the results of this study, it was found that the buoyancy preflexion significantly influence on structural performance of floating structures. According to the length ratio, the buoyancy preflexion effects have a tendency of parabolic form and maximized at the length ratio of 40~60%. The buoyancy preflexion method is simple in principle and easy in application. Also, it can effectively induce pre-compression on the bottom concrete slab. Therefore, it can be concluded that the buoyancy preflexion method contribute to the improvement of structural performance and decreasing of the cross-sectional depth of floating structures.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.72-80
• /
• 2015

In this study, comparative analysis has been performed with regard to a bending stress and deformation at bottom slab of a concrete floating container terminal by live load distributions. In addition, a structural performance and behavior of the floating structure is considered using a numerical analysis. Through reviewed structural performance of a floating structure by live load distribution, the structure presented tensile behavior by two live load cases (A, B, D-type). Then, the other live load cases (C, E, F, G, H, I, J-type) shows compressive behavior. Especially, immoderately compressive stress was generated on bottom slab at specific load distribution. but, that should be decreased through controling buoyancy pre-flexion. Through reviewed structural behavior, slopes of structure by four live load cases (B, E, F, H-type) were exceeded in design criteria of mega-float. It should be estimated that it get out of the load case at loading container. In all, the present study can be considered as a benchmark of a floating container terminal in the absence of analysis and will be used to guide-line about serviceability of concrete floating container terminal.