Design of a new floating structure based on a double slider mechanism

Floating structures are significant in transport infrastructure, oil platforms, and renewable energy applications. A pontoon, semi-submersible, spar, and tension Leg Platform (TLP) are common types; the selection is according to the application and location in the sea. The study presents a new concept based on combining the main features of the semi-submersible and pontoon to overcome difficulties of assembly, maintenance, and transportation. It uses a mechanism to balance the deck of floating structures due to non-homogeneous loads. The study applies the concept to design a two-ton capacity floating structure and checks the strength of the selected nonmetallic materials by using the finite element method. Experimental work implements the 1:10 scaled model to assess and prove the concept. According to the unloading and loading conditions, the main modules of the scaled model, sliders, and the floats behave as claimed concepts at non-homogenous loads.