Mega‐Float

Abstract Mega‐Float is a very large artificial island floating on the sea. The total system consists of floating main structure, mooring system, and access facility. Mega‐Float has various possible applications, for examples, floating airport, offshore container terminal, and leisure facility. Compared with the land reclamation method, Mega‐Float seems to have advantages or merits such as (i) easy construction regardless of its depth or subsoil condition, (ii) lower construction cost and shorter construction period, (iii) easy extension or removal, (iv) vast inner space under the deck, (v) earthquake effect free, and (vi) Few environmental impact. However, Mega‐Float has also some technical challenges caused by its own structural characteristics. In general, Mega‐Float will be far thinner than conventional floating structures in term of depth to horizontal length ratio and it behaves almost like an elastic plate under wave actions. Therefore, it is necessary to give consideration to hydroelasticity, a coupled response between fluid and structural deformation, in the design of Mega‐Float. The structure is too large to be built at any building dock yard or other site on land, it is inevitably constructed by joining floating units together at sea. Achievements of these technical subjects, including others, are described in the text.