Floatable Building Foundation Torque Suppression
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pontoon-supported floating structures face challenges in maintaining a level platform due to variable and unevenly-distributed buoyancy, which can lead to jamming and damage during storm surges.
Innovation Solution
A steel beam support frame platform with cuboidal column guides at the corners, featuring two tiers of square roller frames and I-beams with orthogonal orientations, suppresses torque-induced jamming by allowing vertical movement while maintaining stability through flanged column beams and frame stop blocks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If pontoon-supported floating structures are used to rise and fall with flood water level, then flood damage risk is reduced, but platform levelness is compromised due to variable and unevenly-distributed buoyancy
Solution Approach 1:
The column guides are divided into two separate tiers, with each tier containing roller frames that can independently accommodate buoyancy variations. This segmentation allows the system to handle unevenly-distributed buoyancy forces at different height levels, maintaining platform levelness while enabling vertical movement for flood protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The roller frames are oriented orthogonally to each other in alternating corners, creating a three-dimensional constraint system. This orthogonal arrangement in multiple dimensions allows the platform to move vertically while suppressing rotational torques that would otherwise cause jamming and loss of levelness.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If vertical movement is allowed to respond to storm surge, then flood protection is improved, but torque-induced jamming occurs due to uneven buoyancy distribution
Solution Approach 1:
By arranging roller frames in orthogonal orientations at alternating corners and dividing them into two tiers, the system creates a three-dimensional constraint structure. This multi-dimensional arrangement allows vertical movement while counteracting torques from uneven buoyancy, preventing jamming and ensuring reliable operation during storm surges.
Solution Approach 2:
Each corner of the platform has a unique configuration of roller frame orientations, with adjacent corners having orthogonal arrangements. This local variation in quality at different positions allows the system to distribute and suppress torques generated by uneven buoyancy, preventing jamming while maintaining overall system reliability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If guide columns are used to constrain vertical movement, then platform stability is improved, but complexity increases due to the need for tiered roller frame structures
Solution Approach 1:
The guide column structure is segmented into two tiers with roller frames at different height levels. This segmentation provides stability through distributed constraint points while using modular, repeating units that reduce overall system complexity compared to a monolithic structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The roller frames serve multiple functions: they constrain vertical movement, accommodate buoyancy variations, and suppress torques through their orthogonal arrangements. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, thereby reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively constrains vertical movement and prevents jamming, ensuring the platform remains level and stable under varying buoyancy conditions, thereby minimizing flood damage to buildings during storm surges.
Implementation Method 1
two rollers supported on horizontal axes
Implementation Method 2
an I-beam engaged between the flanges on either side by two rollers
Implementation Method 3
The orientations of the I-beams and rollers alternate orthogonally at each corner of the platform, so that torques generated by uneven buoyancy are suppressed
Implementation Method 4
buoyancy provided by underlying pontoons and/or foam billets
Data Source
AI summary
A floatable building foundation comprises a steel beam support frame platform with buoyancy provided by underlying pontoons and/or foam billets. Vertical movement of the platform in response to a storm surge is constrained by cuboidal column guides at the four corners. Each of the column guides comprises two tiers of square roller frames, within each of which is an I-beam engaged between the flanges on either side by two rollers supported on horizontal axes. The orientations of the I-beams and rollers alternate orthogonally at each corner of the platform, so that torques generated by uneven buoyancy are suppressed and do not result in jamming of the platform as it rises.