2 FLOATING STRUCTURE
In the development of floating technology, many
types of materials have been used for this structure.
In offshore buildings, steel structures have been
widely used as the primary material for aggressive
environments. For smaller-scale applications, such as
housing and marinas, concrete floating objects are
used more. The floating structure can be made from
several types of materials, including:
1. Caisson Concrete
2. Concrete tray
3. Steel structure
4. Concrete - EPS
From these various materials, diverse floating
technologies have been developed with several
functions: floating houses, floating bridges, floating
dock, and other public facilities.
2.1 Floating Structure Materials
2.1.1 Caisson Concrete
The term Caisson is French which means large box,
which refers to the Caisson form. The Caisson
structure has been widely used in Civil Engineering
works as pillars of bridges, docks, and tunnels. This
structure can float on water to be carried easily to the
installation location by the sea. After arriving at the
installation location, this structure will be submerged
to build a foundation. At present, the Caisson
concrete system is the most widely used structural
system as a base for floating buildings.
Closed space that contains the air inside the
caisson is the cause of the large caisson buoyancy.
Caisson is made of hefty, reinforced concrete, so this
type of structure has an extensive draft and is suitable
for deep seabed areas.
Advantages:
has been widely used, so that a lot of
experience regarding the design and
implementation.
has excellent stability because of its weight.
has an internal space that can be utilized
relatively inexpensive compared to steel
has good durability, with low maintenance
costs.
Disadvantages:
has a small buoyancy
has a big draft
easy to sink if it leaks
2.1.2 Concrete Tray/Open Caisson
A concrete tray or open caisson is a type of caisson
that does not have a roof covering or is free. This type
has similarities with a boat. This type is widely used
for light construction such as houses.
2.1.3 Steel
The steel structure is a structural system that is widely
used in offshore buildings and ship buildings. Steel
structures can be made in various shapes. The box
pontoon is the most common type used for floating
installations. The steel structure has a thin wall
thickness, so it has a lighter weight and great
buoyancy. But with its lightweight, the steel structure
is more unstable than concrete. But this can be
overcome by using ballast water. The main
disadvantage of steel structures is susceptibility to
corrosion. Thus, routine maintenance is needed on
steel structures, so this type is rarely used for light
installations.
Advantages:
it has been widely used, so that a lot of
experience in designing and implementing it.
has an internal space that can be utilized
has a low draft
has a small weight
Disadvantages:
high maintenance costs
relatively more expensive when compared to
concrete
easy to sink if it leaks
can conduct heat and electricity.
2.1.4 Concrete - EPS
EPS (Expanded Poly Styrene) is a floating building
first introduced by International Marine Floatation
Systems Inc. (IMF) in 1980. This system consists of
a core EPS layer covered by a concrete layer as an
outer protector. EPS material has a specific gravity of
20 kg / m3, about 50 times lighter than water. With
an EPS system, a floating building's weight can be
much lighter compared to conventional Caisson
systems. This is because the plate's dimensions can be
thinner. After all, some EPS supports the inside.
Besides, the inner plate is no longer needed because
its function has been replaced with lightweight EPS.
With the use of EPS, floating objects can have smaller
drafts. Also, the risk of drowning due to leakage can
be reduced because the concrete's cavities are no
longer filled with air but instead contain EPS. The use
of EPS certainly adds to the cost, but this can be