• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.32-37
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• 2009

An analytic similarity shape solution was studied for a two-dimensional floating and fluid-filled membrane structure. The static shape of a membrane structure can be expressed as a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations. The integration of curvature leads to an analytic solution for the shape, which contains unknown boundary values. Matching the upper and lower shapes at the free surface incorporated with their buoyancy allowed the unknowns to be determined. Some characteristic values of similarity shapes were evaluated and shapes are illustrated for various density ratios and volume efficiency ratios.