Overview of Megafloat: Concept, design criteria, analysis, and design

This paper presents an overview of research and development on Megafloat, carried out by the Technological Research Association of Megafloat (TRAM) and other researchers. Megafloat is a type of very large floating structure (VLFS), pursued by TRAM, to develop technology for ocean space utilization and to show soundness of the technology and readiness for construction. Studies on the legal aspects of Megafloat, its design and construction technologies, its environmental impact, and other related research, are briefly introduced. On-site experiments with a 1000-m-long experimental model, as well as subsequent studies, are introduced. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.