In the second phase research of the Technological Research Association of Mega-Float, a methodology for hydroelastic simulation has been developed for a Very Large Floating Structure (VLFS) in short crested irregular waves to estimate its behavior and check the relevant airport functions. In this paper, the elastic responses of the Mega-Float Phase-II model in short crested irregular waves were estimated and the estimated values were compared with the measured values. The estimated significant values of inclinations at ILS positions and structural strains were in good agreement with the actual measured data. Thus, the validity of this methodology has been verified in practice.
Technological Research Association of Mega-Float in Japan was organized to start a R & D project of Mega-Float. In the first phase of the project from 1995 through 1997, a 300m-class pontoon type model was installed in a sheltered water area by breakwaters in Tokyo Bay and field measurements were carried out on response of the model and environmental conditions. In the second phase of the project from 1998 through 2000, the actual Mega-Float Phase-II model of 1OOOm in length was installed in the vicinity of the phase I site and landing and take-off tests were conducted to verify the applicability of Mega-Float as a floating airport (Kobayashi(2000)). For Mega-Float as a floating airport, its safety and the reliability of airport functions are of essential importance. In the second phase of the project, a methodology for hydroelastic simulation has been developed for a Very Large Floating Structure (VLFS) in short crested irregular waves to predict its behavior and check the relevant airport functions. Some RAOs (Response Amplitude Operators) of motions at ILS positions were calculated first by a newly developed general-purpose three-dimensional computer program for detailed hydroelastic response analysis of VLFSs in regular waves.
